I began this year participating in a worship service with The Woodlands First, a Carroll Teaching Church, near Houston, TX. Senior Pastor Dr. Bruce Webb invited me to join the church as they commissioned Larry and Meagan Key (and their three boys), who were headed that week to Ethiopia to serve as missionaries. I went on behalf of B. H. Carroll to give the couple their diplomas before they left for Africa. Both had completed the requirements for a Master of Arts in Religion and would not be able to attend Convocation in May of this year. In addition, the Carroll faculty and staff at the Carroll Center had collected items for the family as part of our Christmas giving project last year.
What we did that day was the vision of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute: A local church raises up servant leaders who follow the call of God on their lives and who are equipped through accredited theological education for that calling where they live and serve. A church, along with a sending organization (in this case Restore Hope), and B. H. Carroll equip and support those who serve the Mission of God. The worship and commissioning service in The Woodlands First that morning was an ideal picture of what we do and what we work toward as Carroll Institute.
I will have the privilege of being in other Carroll Teaching Churches this spring. Here are some of them:
- First Baptist Church, Rockport, TX, Scott Jones, Pastor, January 27Gene Wilkes @ First Baptist Church, Rockport, TXFirst Baptist Church, Rockport, TX; Scott Jones, Pastor; https://fbcrockport.net/2016-01-27 08:30:002016-01-27 12:00:00America/ChicagoFirst Baptist Church, Rockport, TXFirst Baptist Church1515 N. Live Oak StRockport, TX
- First Baptist Church, Waxahachie, TX, Dr. David Ritsema, Pastor, March 13Gene Wilkes @ First Baptist Church, Waxahachie, TXFirst Baptist Church, Waxahachie, TX, Dr. David Ritsema, Pastor; https://www.fbcwax.org/2016-03-13 08:30:002016-03-13 12:00:00America/ChicagoFirst Baptist Church, Waxahachie, TXFirst Baptist Church315 N. Rogers St.Waxahachie, TX
- Fellowship Church, Arkadelphia, AR, Dr. Scott Jackson, Pastor, April 3Gene Wilkes @ Fellowship Church Arkadelphia, Arkadelphia, ARFellowship Church Arkadelphia, Arkadelphia, AR; Dr. Scott Jackson, Pastor; https://fcarkadelphia.org/2016-04-03 08:30:002016-04-03 12:00:00America/ChicagoFellowship Church Arkadelphia, Arkadelphia, ARFellowship Church Arkadelphia2401 Pine St.Arkadelphia, AR
If you would like me to join you in worship to preach and/or speak to a group about the global work of B. H. Carroll, please contact me. It would be an honor to stand in your place or serve by your side.
I want to thank all of you who gave so generously to Carroll last year, and we enter this year with the certainty God will provide for our needs as always. One highlight in the arena of resources is that we have raised enough funds to begin a new cohort of students in Cuba through the Buddy Rees School of Ministry, which was formed in October 2014. Dr. Adlin Cotto will travel Cuba this spring to finalize the cohort of students who will begin classes in the fall on the island. If you would like to give a gift to this program or any of our scholarship programs, you can give here.
Please keep Carroll, its faculty, staff, Governors and students in your prayers. We pray for you and the needs we are aware of in the Carroll family each time we gather for staff meeting on Tuesdays. We cannot do what God has called us to do without prayer for one another. My verse for this month has been Matthew 6:33. Jesus promised that if we seek his kingdom and his righteousness he will supply all we need. As we seek to fulfill our God-given mission, we trust with you that God will provide all that we need.