Hardage was serving as director of development for George W. Truett Theological Seminary and interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie. He previously has served as executive director of the Waco Regional Baptist Association. He also has been pastor of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, First Baptist Church in Holliday and First Baptist Church in Blum. He also pastored First Baptist Church in Weatherford, Okla. and has served as interim pastor at churches such as Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, First Baptist Church in Huntsville and First Baptist Church in Bryan.

Hardage said he is honored to be selected to serve Texas Baptists. He will begin as executive director Feb. 1.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our Texas Baptist family as executive director,” Hardage said. “It is an honor, and I’m very humbled. I have great respect for those who have served in this position before me and appreciate so much those currently serving this convention. Texas Baptists are making a positive difference for the kingdom, and this is to be celebrated. However, there is so much still to be done. Together, as we work, pray and give we can touch this state and beyond, to an even greater degree.”

Hardage has served as the the chairman of the BGCT State Missions Commission, chairman of the BGCT Missions Funding Committee and as a trustee at East Texas Baptist University. He currently is a trustee at Latham Springs Camp and Retreat Center.

Hardage earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

Hardage currently serves as director of development for George W. Truett Theological Seminary and interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie. He previously has served as executive director of the Waco Regional Baptist Association. He also has been pastor of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, First Baptist Church in Holliday and First Baptist Church in Blum. He also pastored First Baptist Church in Weatherford, Okla. and has served as interim pastor at churches such as Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, First Baptist Church in Huntsville and First Baptist Church in Bryan.

The BGCT Executive Board, which is charged with hiring the convention’s executive director, will vote on whether to call Hardage to the position Jan. 12 during a special called meeting.

Hardage said he is grateful for the influence Texas Baptists have had throughout his life and ministry. He is thankful for the opportunity to be considered as the convention’s next executive director.

“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve our Texas Baptist family,” Hardage said. “I am a grassroots Texas Baptist. I was saved, baptized, called, licensed and ordained in Texas Baptist churches. I received my education at a Texas Baptist institution and have served as pastor of three Texas Baptist churches and interim pastor of five others. I have been the director of missions of a Texas Baptist association and now have served at one of our seminaries. It has also been my privilege to serve Texas Baptists, voluntarily, through a variety of committees and boards.”

Hardage has served as the the chairman of the BGCT State Missions Commission, chairman of the BGCT Missions Funding Committee and as a trustee at East Texas Baptist University. He currently is a trustee at Latham Springs Camp and Retreat Center.

Ron Lyles, chairman of the search committee, praised Hardage as a “man who has a strong love for Jesus and for the Body of Christ, the Church.” He characterized Hardage as having the professional and personal skills to lead Texas Baptists.

“David’s desire is to build upon the strengths of what we as Texas Baptists are doing well and to guide us in making the necessary changes to make our cooperative work even more effective and efficient. He wants to move us ‘from viability to vitality,’” Lyles wrote to the Executive Board.

“The search committee looks forward to the official presentation of David Hardage for your consideration and affirmation. I am confident that those of you who do not know David well will be impressed when you have that opportunity. We gladly recommend him to you to serve as our next executive director.”

Hardage earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

Click to view David Hardage’s resume.

Nail by nail, wire by wire and pipe by pipe, the group of 17 women constructed a new future where the family of six could live happy and healthy. The new three-bedroom wood house will provide a drastically different living situation than the one-room dilapidated recreational vehicle whose deteriorating walls are threatening the health of their baby son. As the women built the family’s new home, the baby came down with pneumonia and was hospitalized.

The new home should alleviate the health concerns for a family that has been involved in Buckner International’s area outreach for several months. Buckner International is in part supported by gifts to missions through the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program, Texas Baptists’ primary giving channel. Texas WMU is supported by gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU, prays the WMU volunteers helped the family take a significant step toward a better life.

“I think we gave the children a safe environment to grow up in,” Wisdom-Martin said. “We gave the family encouragement that someone out there cares about them. I think we gave them a picture of what a Christian looks like.”

Susan Tollison, a member of First Baptist Church in Bogota, said the construction effort represented an opportunity to put her faith into action. Buckner leaders already are sharing the hope of Christ with the family. The actions of the WMU volunteers provide support to the ongoing words expressed by Buckner staff members.

“I think so many times as Christians we need to do more than tell them to pray and read the Bible and how to get saved,” she said. “We need to help people in their everyday lives.”

The home is a dream come true for the De La Rosas; it is for many of the Texas women who built it as well. Many of them admitted to feeling ill-equipped for the mission effort, but found a group of veteran home building Illinois women willing to help them.

“I’ve always wanted to build a home, and I’ve never done it,” Tollison said.

“I’m learning so much. This group from Illinois has taken us under their wing.”

WMU of Illinois has built 11 homes for free. Wisdom-Martin, who led the Illinois WMU before coming to Texas, encouraged a team from Illinois to participate in the Penitas build with WMU of Texas, hoping the team members would encourage first-time builders.

Judy Taylor, a member of Dorrisville Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Ill., participated in the trip despite having a broken arm. Though she couldn’t help with some projects such as shingling the roof, she did help organize the building plans, painted and did other work.

The experience proved to be a teaching moment for Taylor. Every person has limitations – physical and emotional – but if he or she is willing to follow God’s calling, He will use them for His glory.

“There’s a plan for you,” she said. “Whether you have one bad arm or two bad arms, there is a place for you.”

By working together, the women were able to make more progress than they expected. Starting with a foundation, the team had the housed framed at the end of the first day. They began working on the roof the next day. The interior drywall and insulation were started on day three.

“After the first day, I was in awe of how much had been accomplished,” said Marsha Whitrock, member of First Baptist Church in Raymondville who led the effort to run plumbing throughout the house. “And every day, I’m more amazed.”

Wisdom-Martin was pleased to see the women take on the challenge of building a home for a family in need. The trip provided a different service opportunity than those women typically experience.

“I like to challenge WMU members to move beyond their comfort zones to share Christ,” she said. “This is definitely beyond the norm for what you’d expect for women. But I knew if the women would experience it just once, it would transform God’s call on their lives.”

Gabriel Flores, Buckner mission group coordinator, praised the efforts of the women, particularly their hard work, efficiency, effectiveness and camaraderie. Their willingness to serve for a week is part of a larger effort that will transform the De La Rosas’ lives.

“It’s not just a three-bedroom house. It’s much more.”

That fear, she found, was overcome on a recent mission trip to Boston where she was trained in how to share her faith with people of Muslim and Hindu backgrounds. She then participated in a multicultural dinner arranged by a Baptist reaching out to the diverse Boston population where she was able to start building a relationship with people from other faiths.

During the dinner, people took turns sharing their respective life stories, including some about their families and faith. Ridings visited with those sitting around her and learned about their lives.

“I sat there listening for two hours,” said Ridings, Woman’s Missionary Union director at Woods Chapel Baptist Church in Arlington. “I could have sat another two hours.”

“The multicultural event was the highlight of the trip.”

The multicultural gathering helped Ridings gain insight into the lives of Hindus and Muslims, she said. Her apprehension was allayed as she started visiting with people, learning about their families and hearing stories about their children.

“To be part of it was really enlightening,” she said. “It opened your eyes so you can pray better.”

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is in the midst of a partnership with the Baptist Convention of New England and helped facilitate the trip through the Texas Partnerships office, which is supported by gifts to missions through the Cooperative Program and Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Susan Wood, a career missionary who helped lead the trip, was excited by seeing people’s perspectives change and come to realizations that they can easily share their lives and their faith with people who follow other religions.

“As a missionary, it was like a dream come true,” she said.

Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU, praised the WMU team for its commitment to carry out the Acts 1:8 missions mandate. By serving elsewhere, individuals begin to see new missions opportunities around them.

“The Boston mission team provided a great opportunity for WMU members to minister in their Samaria,” she said. “We will take experiences this year and build upon them. We plan to send another team next May.”

This fall the gathering will shift from a two-day annual meeting to a three-day conference aimed at providing helpful thoughts and actions from ministers and ministry practitioners from across the state, said Wayne Shuffield, who leads Texas Baptists’ Evangelism/Missions Team. Patterned after the Catalyst conferences, plenary Ignite Hope Sessions will feature a series of speakers, none of whom will speak longer than 20 minutes.

Featured presenters include: Ron Hall, best-selling author of Same Kind of Different as Me who details encounters and friendship with a homeless man in a Fort Worth ministry; Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay research who has provided statistical insight to church leaders around the globe; Milfred Minatrea, founding director of the Missional Church Center; and Bob Roberts, pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, whose church seeks to have an impact locally and globally by sharing the hope of Christ.

Other presentations will focus on reaching Muslims for Christ, starting churches in apartment complexes, sharing the gospel effectively and clearly, ministering to unreached people groups, participating in mission work globally, having an effective restorative justice ministry and using music and drama groups in evangelism.

“Messengers and guests at this year’s annual meeting will experience the impact and footprint Texas Baptists make globally in obedience to our Acts 1:8 mandate,” Shuffield said. “In addition, participants will hear and learn from multiple and various speakers fresh and practical ideas and insights to take home to their churches, neighborhoods, schools and businesses to implement in their Hope 1:8 strategies and goals.”

The reworked Annual Meeting, which begins when registration opens Oct. 24, is the outgrowth of a convention study committee’s recommendations designed to encourage more Texas Baptist churches to participate in the yearly gathering. The 2011 annual meeting will take place in the Amarillo Civic Center.

The committee recommended that each annual meeting focus on a specific topic that would help Texas Baptists in their efforts to spread the gospel. Those topics are to rotate. The first topic – evangelism and missions – Shuffield believes, reflects the heart of God and the passion of Texas Baptists.

“All Texas Baptists, at our core, are about reaching Texas for Christ, equipping each other in Christ, and assisting through partnership with one another in our Acts 1:8 mission with Christ,” Shuffield said. “This is Evangelism and Missions for Texas Baptists. We will gather in Amarillo this month to fellowship, celebrate, learn more and sharpen skills for all God is doing and wants to do through Texas Baptists in our world.”

For more information about the meeting, visit www.texasbaptists.org/annnualmeeting.

Hall, who was elected to the position in 1993, served as president/CEO of Buckner until 2010, when Reyes was elected president. Hall has continued serving as CEO. With his retirement, board members named Hall president emeritus as of May 1.

During Hall’s tenure at the helm of Buckner, the organization grew to serve more than 400,000 people annually through an array of services around the world. He oversaw the expansion of Buckner to include more than $200 million in capital improvements and in 2008, the Buckner endowment topped $200 million. Today, Buckner lists total assets of more than $400 million.

Along with the capital growth and improvements, Hall guided Buckner to expand its services beyond the borders of Texas and the United States by launching the organization’s international ministry arm in 1996. In addition, Buckner Retirement Services grew exponentially under Hall and today, BRS is the largest not-for-profit senior living organization in Texas, according to a recent report by Ziegler and Company.

Prior to assuming leadership of Buckner, he served as pastor of four Texas Baptist churches. He is a past president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is the author of two books.

Reyes, who becomes CEO May 1, came to Buckner initially as president of Buckner Children and Family Services and in January 2010, he was elected just the sixth president in the 132-year history of Buckner International, succeeding Hall in that role. He came to Buckner from Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio, where he served as president.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Reyes also served as president of the BGCT and was pastor of three Texas Baptist churches before moving to BUA. He currently serves on the board of the Joint Council on International Children’s Services. He holds two doctorate degrees.

Board Chair Lee Bush of Athens, Texas, said the leadership transition “exemplifies the way Christian ministries should operate. Buckner has been blessed for 132 years with outstanding leaders and both Dr. Hall and Dr. Reyes personify that leadership.”

By Buckner International staff

Weber thought of Hanna immediately as he began the process of naming an interim president.

“Before I talked to Homer to see if he would take on this responsibility, I spoke with each of the members of our executive committee about who our interim should be, as well as to the chairmen of the South Texas Children’s Home and South Texas Children’s Home Land Management boards,” Weber said. “All were in agreement that we could not have a better person in this position than Homer Hanna.” 

Hanna retired from South Texas Children’s Home in 2000 after 22 years of service. During his tenure, Hanna’s responsibilities included serving as child care administrator, special assistant to the president, and vice president for church relations. Additionally, he served two terms as interim president for STCH. Although retired from STCHM, Hanna currently serves part-time as a STCHM development consultant and remains active in his involvements with the home.

“South Texas Children’s Home Ministries is successful because of the wonderful group of talented and dedicated people who do their part in every aspect of the day to day life of the Home,” Weber said, “We are in marvelous shape to move forward as Homer steps in once again to serve the South Texas Children’s Home Ministries family. He will be a familiar face, both internally and publicly, as he represents the Home and facilitates operations.”

Prior to coming to STCH in 1977, Hanna served in numerous Texas churches in the positions of youth director, assistant pastor, associate pastor and pastor. He is a graduate of Baylor University and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as Dean of Students at the University of Corpus Christi (now Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) from 1966-1970. Hanna currently resides in Beeville with his wife, Marilyn. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

Hanna is honored to play a role in moving STCHM forward.

“STCH founder Jess Lundsford always said that when God provides an opportunity, He also provides the resources and the people to carry it out,” Hanna shared. “When I look at the quality, Christ-centered people God has brought to STCHM in the past – all the way from the board members to the administrative staff and all those who meet the needs of children and families each day – I know God will provide for the future. Todd and Jill have certainly been a part of that provision, and we are sorry to see them go. But they are going to a wonderful place, and we are excited to see what God has in store for them. In the interim, I will pray for those seeking God’s will. And we will faithfully carry out His work until God makes His will known.” 

Hanna will assume the helm at STCHM until a search committee finds a full-time president and CEO to lead the ministry into the future.

By Vickie Hewitt, STCHM

Wearing orange shirts whose luminescence was matched only by volunteers’ smiles, Texas WMU members and ministry volunteers took to the streets for Touchpoint, performing a variety of community ministry throughout the day in a partnership with Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Through the WMU effort, women, men, boys and girls held a children’s carnival; visited with people living in an apartment complex by playing bingo with them and cleaning their apartments when possible; fed homeless people; cleaned showers; prayer walked the region; and did some landscaping and construction work for Cornerstone Baptist Church.

The service event empowered Texas WMU members to connect with people and share the hope of Christ in word and deed. The volunteers were able to share the gospel with some of those they served.

“It does something to see children and adults and grandparents working side by side for the cause of Christ,” said Sandra Wisdom-Martin, Texas WMU executive director-treasurer.

Virginia Kreimeyer of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin said an effort like Touchpoint reflects the heart of Texas WMU: Christians engaged in mission work to spread the gospel.

“That’s what WMU is all about,” she said. “Missions is all about reaching people.”

Frances Thurman, a Texas WMU board member and member of First Baptist Church in El Paso, said she had the opportunity to meet an 88-year-old man while playing bingo. He shared about the death of his wife and his son. During the game, he won a bookmark with three crosses on it. He said he would use it to decorate his son’s grave.

In an interview more than a week after the event, Thurman said she’s thought of the man each day since the event. She bought a greeting card that she was going to send him so he knows someone cares about him.

“It was a time where we could go and just be with the residents,” she said. “These people are lonely. It was a real unified time of touching and being with people.”

Johnnie James of Greater St. James Baptist Church in Dallas was part of a team that prayerwalked and looked for opportunities to share the gospel. She found people largely were open to being prayed with and talking about faith.

“They were so happy to see us,” she said. “We got to pray with them.

Seeing the vast ministry of Cornerstone Baptist Church reminded James that congregations can accomplish great things when they follow God’s calling. It was a reminder to the 14 people from her church that they are called to serve the community as well.

“Touchpoint made us aware of what we could do,” she said.

Wisdom-Martin said Touchpoint is meant to help individuals “transform their Christian walk into a missions lifestyle,” where people begin to see chances to share the hope of Christ and take advantage of them.

“One of the reasons we want to offer experiences like this is people feel safe participating in missions when it’s preplanned,” she said. “But when they go home and it’s not planned, they see their communities with new eyes. Not only do we do ministry when we’re there, we return and minister at home.”

The outpouring of commitment to following Christ came as members of more than 25 congregations gathered for the pre-Easter event, which has taken place at the camp annually for more than 30 years. Nearly 800 people attended the retreat this year.

Mike Wilson, the camp’s administrator, said he enjoys seeing people decide to follow Christ. Each time a person follows Christ at the camp, Wilson thanks God for His desire to have a relationship with people.

“It gives you goose bumps seeing people going down to the front,” Wilson said.

Alto Frio Baptist Encampment, which is supported financially by six Baptist associations, will host a variety of events throughout the year, each with the same purpose as the pre-Easter retreat – to see people come to Christ.

“That’s why we do camp,” Wilson said. “Our decisions over the course of the year is anywhere from 600-800. There’s always a bunch of professions of faith out here.”

TBM put out a call for bottled water a few days before it started accepting it for firefighters and wildfire victims. Texas Baptists responded mightily to that call, said Mickey Lenamon, TBM associate executive director. One woman carried two cases of bottled water with her on a cross-town bus ride. Then she walked with the water another two miles to get it to TBM’s headquarters.

“Our Baptist community has responded to the call to help our neighbors who are caught in the devastating wildfires,” he said. “We had no idea how many people would respond, but God opened the hearts of His people and they brought us 3,511 cases of water. Now, Texas Baptist Men is taking water this week to the affected area. If your church needs water to give to their people, please contact us 214-828-5177.”

The men’s ministry is working with the state of Texas and Texas Baptists to distribute bottled water to those who need it. Fire departments across the state have indicated they are running out of drinking water for firefighters and for victims of the fires.