.....a couple more pictures

Here are two more pictures from our fiesta.

Fiesta - Part 2

Our fiesta on September 12 was big success. It was plenty hot, but at least it didn't rain (which is a minor miracle, considering how much rain we have had here lately). Everything, from the music to the food, turned out great. Here are a couple of pictures (the picture on the bottom is of a Marimba band from the University of Texas - Brownsville).

Border Summit

On Thursday of this past week I traveled to San Antonio for the first ever "Borderlands Summit", sponsored by the SBTC. If you are familiar with the Texas/Mexico border, you know that it is an area like no other......not quite Mexico, not quite the United States. What is more, one area of the border may be quite different from another. The summit was an attempt to dialogue and plan with other leaders from our state. From Brownsville up to El Paso, every region was represented. All in all a good time of disussion and fellowship.

Fiesta!!!

September 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Mexico's independence, and we intend to get in on the fun. On Sunday, September 12th we will sponsor a Bicentennial Fiesta right here at the church. If you live in the Brownsville area, be sure to stop by for lots of good food, fun and fellowship. ¡ándale!

We Hope We Never Need It, But....

On Saturday, August 7th our church hosted disaster relief training. The SBTC has provided us with 2 trailers full of cooking equipment, so we all needed to know how to use it! About 40 people (including some from other churches) attended the training.
If you aren't part of a disaster relief team where you live, you really should consider getting involved. It is a fantastic way to minister in the name of Christ, at a time when people most need help. I have witnessed first-hand how grateful people are when they see a group of Christians, wearing those bright, mustard-colored shirts, show up to serve after a disaster, and expecting nothing in return. So, why do we do it? Because Christ first loved us.
And, did you know? SBC Disaster Relief is the 3rd largest relief organization in the world, behind only the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Bak To Skool

Our last team of the summer was in town the first weekend of August. These are old friends from Sagemont Church in Houston. They have been doing missions in the valley for several years, and we are delighted to partner with them. Each year they conduct a back-to-school clinic, in cooperation with Iglesia Bautista Horeb (Horeb Baptist Church) and Pastor Carlos Osorio. They give away a ton of school supplies, and provide other valuable services. It's a lot of work, but is always appreciated by the community. Many thanks to Kathy, James, and the whole crew for a wonderful weekend of ministry.

Duck, Duck, Goose

This week we are hosting a team from University Baptist Church in San Antonio. They are conducting a VBS near a local mobile home park (see picture). There are about 45 kids attending. The leader, Jim, told me today that he has around 20 former students from his youth groups that are now involved in full time vocational Christian service. His secret? He deliberately involves his teens in mission trips and service projects. They, in turn, develop a love for the work, and the people they get to meet while doing it. So while some youth groups are all about pizza and amusement parks, Jim is trying to produce committed followers of Christ. I tell you, this warms my heart.