Baptist Community Services commits to deliver 1,400 Texas Hope 2010 CDs
By Kaitlin Chapman | 11.04.09
AMARILLO – Baptist Community Services is sharing the hope of Christ with its residents and employees one compact disc at a time.
The organization, which runs two family-fitness centers and Park Central – a continuing care retirement community offering four retirement-living complexes, an assisted living community, a long-term care center, an Alzheimer’s unit and a skilled-nursing and rehab center, is giving the gospel presentation CDs to the more than 1,400 residents and staff as part of Texas Hope 2010, a Texas Baptists emphasis to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010 and to place scripture in all 8.8 million Texas homes.
The Texas Hope multimedia CDs include gospel presentations, an audio recording of the book of John and an option to download the New Testament in more than 300 languages.
“I hope that people who don’t know Christ will find Him this way,” said Tim Holloway, president and CEO of Baptist Community Services. “We want to do anything we can to help spread the Word, and if nothing else, we can help people be curious about it.”
Alan Williamson, chaplain at Park Central, worked with Holloway to find a way to become involved with Texas Hope 2010. Both believed the CD was the best option, saying it is a great tool because of the simple, straightforward Christian message that offers hope to everyone.
“One thing I like about the multimedia CD is that it just talks about Christ and the hope of the Lord,” he said.
To help make this endeavor happen, Keith Bruce, director of institutional relations for Texas Baptists, gave the organization a $500 grant designated for the Texas Hope 2010 CD distribution. The institutional relations department has also been able to help Houston Baptist University and the Baptist Hospitals of South East Texas in Beaumont with similar endeavors.
“To encourage and assist our Texas Baptist Institutions as they participate in Texas Hope 2010, the Institutional Relations office has made available $500 matching grants to support projects and efforts that are specifically focused on fulfilling the goals of Texas Hope 2010,” Bruce said.
The CDs will be given to residents and staff as a gift during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Computers will be available in the residential communities so that residents will be able to use all the options on the CD.
“We are attaching a note to say we are thankful for every staff member and resident within our organization and that we hope it will be a source of encouragement to them,” Williamson said.
Because the CD is based on sharing Scripture, Williamson believes great fruit will come from sharing it with others.
“When the Word of God goes forth, it never comes back void,” he said. “I know every person needs it whether they are walking with the Lord or not. My hope is just that the Holy Spirit can do what he wants in each life through this source. The people can use this in their timing and the Lord can work through that.”
Williamson foresees that the CD will touch more than the residents and staff, offering hope to the families of residents too.
“This is something that hopefully we will be able to get into the hands of family members, and it will minister to them as well,” Williamson said.
City Reach Houston is based on Texas Hope 2010, an effort by Texas Baptists to pray for the lost, care for the hurting and hungry and to share the Hope of Christ so that every Texan has a chance to respond to the gospel by Easter 2010.
For more information about Texas Hope 2010, visit http://www.texashope2010.com.