Pan Dulce

The Temple Visit

Dr. Thom Wolf led us on a visit to the local Hindi Temple where a statue of the mother god was displayed. He provided some commentary for us with biblical references along the way. 1 Corinthians 10 came alive to us as we walked by the long lines of people bringing flowers, candy, food, and other offerings to present to the mother goddess.

We had to remove our shoes to enter the holy place, yet the area was strikingly un-kept. Worshippers, by the 100’s circled into the temple, rang the bell to invoke the spirit of the goddess to meet them in worship as they presented their gifts and burned incense.

The Apostle Paul says that food and offerings offered to pagan idols are actually offered to demons. I was reminded of Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6, that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and evil powers in high places.” I was moved at the widespread sense of alienation from the one true living God in that place.

This kind of worship offers no hope of a personal relationship with God, no hope of redemption, and no freedom to live out the purpose God has designed for us. People are restricted to their own caste, their assigned lot in life with no hope of the life that Jesus offers.

We came to discover how we can serve children and families in India. We are in a place where children need the hope that Jesus offers. Needs are immeasurable. More on what our next step will be next week.

India

Jeff Jones, Sr. Director for Volunteer Management and Missions Support and Susan Williams, Director for Missions Support have joined me on Buckner’s first exploratory trip to India. We have traveled to Delhi to meet with Thom Wolf, President of University Institute based in Delhi. While we already provide intercountry adoptions from India through Dillon International, we hope to find ways to serve vulnerable children, orphans and families through social services here as well.

We have been immersed in India, a place that Mira Kamdar, author of Planet India, calls the most important country for the future of the planet.

Here are a few things that I have learned about India since I arrived:

India’s population, numbering 1.2 billion, is home to 800 million people that lives on less than $2 per day.

46% of all children in the world that suffer from malnutrition live in India.

The population that lives in the continent of Africa represents ½ of the population of India.

70% of the population of the city of Bombay lives in slums; 13% of Delhi live in slums.

70% of the Christian church in India are from the Dalit, those without a caste.

15% of India’s population are in the Pure/Forward Castes; 50% are in Impure Backward Castes; and 20% are Dalit, those without a caste/out-caste; about 15% pop out of the caste system, usually through education or conversion.

We are meeting with friends and key contacts that will help us navigate opportunities for ministry here in India. Pray that the Lord will show us how we might make life better for vulnerable children, orphans, and families.

Weeds, Deeds, and Seeds

The Prophet Micah (6:8) says “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (NIV). Thom Wolf calls this pulling weeds, doing deeds, and planting seeds. Pulling weeds relates to reversing or correcting unjust practices in our circle of influence; doing deeds relates to loving and doing mercy; and planting seeds relates to walking humbly before the Lord and providing a visible testimony of the hope that is in us. Pulling weeds bring hope; doing deeds is loving our neighbor; and walking humbly before God introduces seekers to the faith. It is Paul’s faith, hope, and love trilogy found in 1st Corinthians.

Last week Jeff Jones, Sr. Director of Volunteer Management and Missions Support and Susan Williams, Director of Missions Support, both Buckner staff, travelled 7,000 miles with me to Bangladesh to learn about the work of HARD, an NGO working to provide tangible hope for the lives of many people in that country. They provide educational support, economic development, and health care services for the poorest of the poor.

The work we saw was amazing! This NGO is eradicating poverty, one family at a time. I wish I could communicate the expression of joy on the faces of mother’s as they told about the ability to provide for their families due to a micro-loan provided to them by HARD. I wish I could explain the sound of pride in their voices as they told about the education their children were receiving. And before I forget to mention it, I wish I could communicate the confidence in elders who put glasses on for the first time in their lives after a quick eye exam and were able to read. Amazing!

About 80% of the population of Bangladesh lives on less than $2 per day. About 10% of the worlds Muslims live in this country. It is a wonderful place to be to serve the poor.

Buckner is being invited to provide humanitarian support and volunteers to support HARD. We are hopeful that volunteers will either choose to send or take shoes for the children and other villagers. We are trying to pull weeds, do deeds, and plant seeds.

Serving the Least of These, One at a Time

Today, I asked Jackie Belt, Director of Crisis Relief at Buckner to write about our ministry to people in need in the Dallas area:
People have lost jobs and homes. Many are searching for help, encouragement and hope. At the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid, we serve “at risk children and families” during a critical or traumatic time in their lives.

Through our doors come the little children, single moms, single dads, grandparents, young parents, elderly men and women, and we help them one at a time. Our referrals come from churches, teachers, social service agencies, and individuals. By providing food, clothing and furniture, financial assistance, school supplies and other necessities, our goal is to help these families at their point of need and to achieve and maintain independence and self-sufficiency.
During this 3rd quarter of 2009, the Crisis Relief Center served 7,370 with emergency food assistance. We served 5,504 with clothing assistance, 62 families with furniture assistance, 118 families with financial assistance and 148 children with school supplies. We had 98 volunteers work a total of 2,122 hours.
 
Marta came to the center for help. She has three children ages 9, 6, and 9 months. Her husband lost his job and their electricity was turned off. They live in a small two room house and all the children sleep in one room. Her husband, Pablo, is a hard worker trying to support his family by hanging sheetrock or doing any type of maintenance work or construction work for a few dollars to support his family. All the children were sick and hungry when they came to Buckner. They do not qualify for public assistance because Pablo is an undocumented citizen of Mexico. It was sad to see them hurting. Buckner provided emergency food assistance, utility assistance, along with clothing and diapers for the children. We see hundreds of people every week in crisis situations. It’s because of our donors and volunteers, that we are able to help. It seems like the more people we help, the more God provides the ministry with humanitarian aid.

During this 3rd quarter we received donations of humanitarian aid to meet the needs thousands of children and families. We distributed over 30 tons of food during this period. We thank God for our wonderful donors and volunteers. 

If you feel the LORD calling you to do something for the least of these, please contact me at jbelt@buckner.org and we will help you find your place of service. God bless you.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Making a Difference in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

Today I have asked Jorge Zapata, Director of the Buckner Colonia Program since 2002, to write about Buckner Border Ministry.

Buckner Border Ministries serves people along the US/Mexico Border, from Texas to California. Texas is the home of over 3,000 colonias with a population of over 500,000 people living in poverty and developing country conditions. We serve three regions along the Texas Border: the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo/Eagle Pass and Presidio/El Paso, TX. In New Mexico, we serve in the Las Cruces, NM colonia area and the Mescalero Reservation. In Arizona we serve the Douglas/Tucson area and in California we serve the San Ysidro/Tecate area.

Buckner collaborates with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) through KidsHeart, the vessel that God is using to send mission groups to the borderlands. Seven years ago we launched our first KidsHeart in Progreso, TX. Today, KidsHeart reaches the Rio Grande Valley, Eagle Pass, and El Paso area. When church groups arrive in these border communities, the lives of children and families are transformed because they experience hope, something they had lost. Mission groups repair and build new houses for families that live in extreme poverty; they provide medical and dental services through trained medical personnel; provide free clinics in the community center; and volunteers share the gospel though VBS, sport camps, arts & crafts, sewing & quilting, gardening, ESL & GED classes. Volunteers build book shelves and bring books to families so they can read to their children. A total of five denominations groups serve through Buckner Border Ministries. Buckner has changed the way of doing missions in the 21 century. Our slogan is “Transforming Communities, One Family at a Time.”

Valley Ranch Baptist Church recently built three houses for three families. One of them was the Ramos family living in a 14 x 14 structure. Today they live in a beautiful new three bedroom house. Mrs. Ramos is a single mother with nine children. The youngest is seven months old and the oldest is 16 years old. The eldest young man is the provider for the family and attends school with work following in the afternoons. The young man was having a hard time finding a job. We provided him a lawnmower, a weed-eater, a gas tank and recommended a pricing strategy for his new business. Now he is mowing yards for a living and plans to start his own landscaping business.

About 3,000 short-term volunteers make a run to the border to make a difference in the life of a family every year. If you sense the Lord calling you to engage children and families along the border this year, please contact me at jzapata@buckner.org and we will help you find your place of service for a week or more. We preach the gospel and sometimes we use words.

 

ETEAM: East Texas Ethiopia Aid Mission

Today, I have asked Jim Palmer, Missions Liaison at Buckner, to write about a growing trend of church missional engagement. Take a few moments and read about the future of missions:

Over the last several decades, the nature and role of missions in the local church has changed. While missions have always been the heartbeat of Baptist churches, the call to mission involvement has become more personal. In an attempt to personalize missions, local churches have become increasingly engaged in international mission efforts.

Personalizing missions and making a difference in Ethiopia is the goal of a group of churches called the ETEAM (East Texas Ethiopia Aid Mission). This network of churches is a cooperative mission effort working under the direction of Buckner International. The ETEAM is lead by FBC Corsican, FBC Kilgore, FBC Athens, Central BC Marshall, FBC Lufkin and FBC Longview. The churches have committed to raising over $150,000 per year to fund ministry programs in Ethiopia as well as recruiting church members to serve on short-term mission projects.  A number of additional churches are considering joining the ETEAM this year.  Jim Palmer is leading the ETEAM as Missions Development Coordinator for Buckner. Palmer has served as IMB missionary for 28 years and is helping the churches develop and implement an appropriate mission strategy.

As the second largest country of Africa, Ethiopia is representative of a continent with dire human needs. 40% of families live in abject poverty. Ethiopia has the third largest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS.  Over five million children have been orphaned by AIDS and poverty. Buckner International has partnered with a local ministry, Bright Hope Organization, to minister to the needs of these children and families. Working with Buckner/Bright Hope, the ETEAM has adopted the remote village of Bantu, Ethiopia and assisted in the construction of a school, a deep water well, other community development projects. The school in Bantu is providing a quality education, two nutritious meals day, school uniforms, shoes, and medical attention. In addition, the children receive Bible teaching and English classes. Most of the children are HIV/AIDS orphans or from families too poor to send them to school.

Ethiopia is about 45% Islamic, 40% Orthodox, 5% Animist, with less than 10% evangelical Christians. Of the more than 80 ethnic groups, over half are have little access to the gospel. However, the Ethiopian evangelical community is one of the fastest growing in the world. Churches are being planted and multiplying at incredible rates.   The door for ministry is Ethiopia is wide open and the government has welcomed us to address the needs of children and families, as well as to encourage spiritual formation.  The ETEAM is partnering with local Ethiopia believers to share Christ with their neighbors. As a result of the ministry in Bantu, a new evangelical congregation is being planted.

The ETEAM is accomplishing more together than one church could alone.  The Ethiopia people are being transformed as the ETEAM communicates the love of Christ in word and deed.  During the last three years nine mission teams have provide over 200 members of ETEAM churches with an opportunity to personalize missions and fulfill the Great Commission.  

If you would like to learn more about developing a church missional network for India, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, or Latin America, please call me at 214-758-8190 or email me at areyes@buckner.org and I will put you in touch with our staff.

Making Life Better for Children and Families in North Dallas

 

Today I have asked Sandra Martinez, Coordinator of Global Ministries at Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana of Dallas to write about her ministry at Primera through a Buckner Church and Community Ministry Collaboration in Dallas. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Social work from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor and a Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and has served on the Buckner team for the past nine years.

 

In my experience with Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana of Dallas, I have heard some interesting questions and comments made by participants in our community ministry programs such as:  “I’m not Baptist;”  “How much do you charge for the class?”  “You are the only church that I know of that helps the community.”  Our community ministry started in the summer of 2009, serving in multiple ways:  through a Summer Lunch Box program which was a program of the North Texas Food Bank; a reading program; offering a variety of summer camps, and a Health & Safety Fair.  Through these programs, we were able to serve over 500 children and their families.  The Summer Lunch Box program was our biggest outreach with the intent of getting to know families in our community, feeding their children, and helping them see Primera as a church that serves its community.  Now, through the new relationships formed with the children and parents, we are providing a tutoring program, a variety of basic computer skills and online GED classes, a parenting class, and other youth programs.  There is such a need for these programs that we have started a waiting list!  During our collaboration, we have had 5 professions of faith! We are so grateful to God for this. 

 

I have enjoyed the support of Primera’s new pastor, Dr. Gus Reyes. On Wednesday evenings we have begun providing a dinner to the children and families and encourage them to stay for our worship service, bible study, leadership classes, and GED class.  There is something for everyone!    Sunday mornings, there are other programs and ministries being offered to the whole family plus the English and Spanish worship services.  If a family only speaks one language or both, their needs can be met by attending either or both services.

 

Our intent is to be God’s hands and feet in the community, not only helping them meet physical needs but to meet their spiritual needs, as well.  I believe that church collaborations are valuable in a community due to the social service aspect and spiritual needs of people that are being met at the same time.  People come with several physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  After participating in our programs, they leave empowered and with hope. Through church collaborations, we mobilize the individual gifts of members, their abilities and resources. Our experience is that when these resources are combined so much more can be done. More importantly, church collaborations put a new focus on the opportunity to do missions not only locally, but across the state and globally.

 

Our experience teaches us that serving children and families in Jesus’s name provides many opportunities to also share the good news of the gospel. Primera knows that they will be investing their resources, gifts, and talents in making life better for children and families in their surrounding community while sharing Christ’s love. Pray for us as we work together to bring the Kingdom very near to the residents of North Dallas.

Iced Water

I asked Phil Brinkmeyer, Regional Director for Russia and Africa Ministry to write about how Buckner is providing water through a collaboration with churches and serving the least of these.

Being from Texas, there is nothing better than a cold Dr. Pepper or a glass of sweet tea...but today, as I sat down, I looked over my  “trying to eat healthy”  lunch and glass of iced water…hmmm… water: clean, clear and cold… straight from the tap no more than 5 feet away.  I snapped a picture on my techno savvy phone just to give you a visual.

I am not the type of person to carry the ever present “hug the trees” Nalgene bottle, or even “hurt the trees” throw away plastic bottle… Heck... give me a DP, or sweet tea… Gatorade, or lemonade any day!

In countries around the world in which Buckner works…there is no luxury of a cold DP or lemonade. There is no clean, clear, cold ice water or for that fact clean warm water, much less getting it indoors  5 feet away…  Are we spoiled or are we blessed?

Whatever the case may be there are churches, groups and individuals around the world that are choosing to make the dream of having clean water accessible to thousands around the Globe.  Christian Life Commission, the ethics agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas is one such entity.  Each year, CLC dedicates funding for crisis needs around the globe through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger (TBOWH).  Buckner has been the recipient of funding through this offering to aid in the drilling of water wells in Kenya and Ethiopia.  Through this group and churches in Texas like;  “The Maverick Class” at South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, The Church on Rush Creek in Arlington, Greater Mt. Zion Church in Austin or Community Baptist Fellowship in Hickory, Kentucky, and the “E-Team”, a group of churches binding together from East Texas and dedicating their congregations to saving lives physically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually in the country of Ethiopia as well as many huge hearted individuals.. The dream is becoming a reality.  It has been wonderful to see funding coming through so many sources to give the gift of clean water to so many deprived of this most basic necessity of life and to all of you, I say thank you.

You see, it is estimated: water related diseases are responsible for 80% of illnesses and deaths in the developing world; 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean water.  For every well drilled thus far by Buckner, between 3,000 and 8,000 people now have access to clean water.  Because of committed Christians around the world,   villages such as Busia, Axum, Kitale, Bantu, and Bungoma will have life giving water.  There are still thousands of other specs on a map around the world that need their thirst quenched and health secured.

Will you help? 

If you’re interested in the World Hunger Offering take a look at www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?&pid=5585

If you’re an East Texas Church of any denomination and interested in the work in Ethiopia or other parts of the world contact: jipalmer@buckner.org or myself, pbrinkmeyer@buckner.org.

Oh… and that refreshing clean, clear, cold water I had at lunch… I drank what I wanted and poured the rest down the drain….

Hispanic Heritage Month

This month is national Hispanic heritage month in the USA.  There some interesting trends that we should consider as we think about the future of Kingdom work in Texas and beyond.

Globally, the trend for migration is south to north and east to west with intersections across our nation. In general, people are pursuing prosperity and it usually points them to the West. Phillip Jenkins, in his book, The Next Christendom, has long projected that by 2050 the center of gravity for Christianity will move to the Global South, as in, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We know that already, today, most of the largest evangelical/protestant churches in the world are found in those regions, as opposed to the United States. The Spirit of God is moving in ways we might only describe as “New Testament” in the global south.

On a National level, today Hispanics have surpassed 45 million representing 15% of the total USA population according to the latest census bureau report.[i] Hispanics represent the largest minority group in America and the states with the highest population of Hispanics are California, followed by Texas, and Florida.[ii]  Hispanics are expected to comprise 30% of the US population by 2050 reaching 128 million in that year.[iii] The US Border Patrol and the Pew Hispanic Center estimate undocumented immigrants at approximately 12 million in the US today, the majority of whom arrive from Mexico.[iv]

In Texas, Hispanics number nearly 37% of the Texas population.[v] The Texas State Data Center projects that by 2020, Hispanics will make up the majority of Texas’ population and by 2040 Border cities like El Paso will be 90% Hispanic, San Antonio will reach 61%, and Austin will reach a Hispanic population of 44%.[vi] 

In Dallas, we see some very interesting trends regarding demographics and the emerging Hispanic population.  The US Census bureau numbers Hispanics at 38% of the Dallas County population by 2010.[vii]  A recent report from the Latino Leadership Council of Dallas places shows 42% of the City of Dallas residents are Hispanic. By 2040 Hispanics are expected to reach 54% of the Dallas population. Today, 60% of children enrolled in the Dallas Independent School District are Hispanic.[viii]

Conclusion: It appears that national, state, and local trends indicate an increasing opportunity to share the Gospel with Hispanics that are coming to our country, our counties, and our cities. At the very least, the future will be spicy, have an accent, and will be challenging. What are the implications of these demographic trends for you, your family, your church, and your ministry?

---

[i] U.S. Census Bureau News, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC at www.census.gov/press-

release.www/releases/archives/population/011910.html

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050, Pew Hispanic Center, Pew Research Center: Social and Demographic

Trends, February 11, 2008 at www.pewresearch.org .

[iv] Brad Knickerbocker, Illegal immigrants in the US:How Many are there? The Christian Science Monitor, May 16,

2006 at www.csmonitor.com/2006/0516/p01s02-ussc.html accessed on October 1, 2009.

[v] U.S. Census Bureau, State and County Quick Facts: Texas at http://quickfacts.census.gov.qfd/states/48000.html

 Accessed online October 1, 2009.

[vi] D’Ann Peterson and Laila Assanie, The Face of Texas: Jobs, People, Business, and Change, Federal Reserve

Bank of Dallas, October 2005 at www.dallasfed.org/research/pubs/fotexas_petersen.html on October 1,

2009.

[vii] Dallas County Quickfacts from the US Census Bureau: Dallas County, Texas at

http://quickfacts.census.gove/qfd/states/48/48113.html on October 1, 2009.

[viii] North Texas Hispancs: Pending Crisis published by the Latino Leadership Council, DFW International

Community Alliance.

What Could You Eat Today for $3.14?

Imagine setting your budget and planning your meals today on $3.14. Starbucks would be the first to go. But you have to fit breakfast, lunch, and dinner in that $3.14. About ½ of the world’s population lives on that amount everyday. In Dallas, you might be able to eat a breakfast at McDonald’s for that amount or if you found a really good taqueria and loaded up salsa and drank water you might be able to satisfy your hunger till about noon. Then what? We have not yet talked about whether or not these are the best things for you to eat.

I am writing an article and was struck with this factoid. I also found that 80% of the world’s population lives on $10 a day. So that gets you through noon. This means that 80% of the world’s population only eats two meals a day and that is if the only concerns they have relate to food. What about shelter, clothing, education, etc? I don’t know what a Christian response would look like, much less a Baptist response. I wonder how many of these people are vulnerable children and orphans?

I am reminded that Jesus said “when I was hungry, you gave me to eat.” I am planning a trip Bangladesh and India this month. I am sure I will see what I am learning up close and personal.

Something must be done.