Sharing our Stories…Minnie Walker

By Minnie Walker, South Main Member

Minnie Walker is a proud member of the Reba Class in the Senior Adult Sunday School Department who is actively involved in many Missions activities at South Main.

I moved to Houston in 2005 to be near my sons and prayed I would find a church with loving members where I could dedicate my services to the Lord.

Guess what? God answered my prayer through a friend, Jean Crump, a former member of South Main Baptist Church, who had moved to San Antonio. She told me I HAD to go to her church in Houston for” it was the best, no other like it”. However, I really did not want to move my membership until I visited other churches.

Guess what? Here came an email from Jean with directions almost to the front door of South Main! So I attended church services, Sunday School and kept getting phone calls inviting me to join the Reba Class.

Guess what? I moved my membership to South Main and joined the Reba Class. Dodie Beazley has been a great influence in my life, and has involved me in SMILE, Shoes for Orphans and Bible Study. Cliff Brunson invited me to make sandwiches for the homeless, and I have been involved in this program for over two years.

So you see the reason I chose South Main Baptist for my church are the warm, friendly, caring Christian people who welcomed me and influenced my life. I have been blessed and can truly say this is the right church for me.

We are never more like Jesus than when we SHARE…. As we learn to share our stories, we learn to share our faith…

Share Campaign 2010

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Reflections on Peru

By Chelsea Wade, Buckner Ministries Coordinator at South Main Baptist Church.  Chelsea visited Peru from December 4-13, 2009.

During the first orphanage visit a fellow participant asked me who my favorite was. I said that I wanted to spend time with as many children as possible and that I didn’t have one. After listening to my response he reiterated: “You always have a favorite”. There were certainly children that took my hand for reasons that I can’t explain. At times they smiled at me with so much joy that I became overwhelmed. I have no doubt that I was placed there for divine reasons. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say “You’ll always become a favorite”.

Chronicling my experiences was a bit difficult for this trip. I usually enjoy writing journal entries but this method seemed futile for this experience. I found myself summarizing the itinerary instead of taking an introspective approach. I opted to e-mail friends and family tidbits about emotions and observations. After re-reading these conversations I’ve decided that they give an accurate representation of my personal growth.

Here at South Main the concept of community is emphasized in activities. I’ve become much more aware of what we can accomplish together and learn from each other in community settings.  My awareness of community was certainly increased during this trip. I had the opportunity to function as an extension of South Main and as a Buckner employee. In addition I got to work alongside others to accomplish a common goal: showing God’s love.

When the trip was coming to a close, we discussed the challenge of describing our experience. How could we effectively communicate the happiness that the children felt? How could we explain the changes in our hearts? How could we show that we have been humbled? I suggested that those around us will learn about experience from our actions. I added that I couldn’t wait to step off the plane and be a different person that I was before leaving…thank God.

New shoes are good for the soul.

Yours and theirs.

South Main’s “Shoes for Orphan Souls” effort providing new shoes and socks to orphan children around the world is coming to an end for the year. These children are often filled with a sense of hopelessness as the years have passed and no parents have come to take them home. South Mainers have shown that they care by having sent over 55,000 pairs of new shoes the past few years (over 15,000 pairs last year alone). Every gift can make a difference in a child’s life.

We need your help in packing boxes this Sunday around noon. Please join us in the Welcome Center as we finish the shoe packing and load up the big truck!  There is a place for everyone to serve.  Please join us.

There are hurting children everywhere…

Today, there are more than 143 million orphans around the globe. Children without a voice… children who need love. There are children in crisis who need safety… who need care. Buckner provides an array of services to meet the needs of children around the world. Shoes for Orphan Souls is Buckner International’s largest humanitarian aid project, collecting and distributing more than 1.8 million pairs of new shoes since its inception in 1999. South Main Baptist Church began its participation in 2000. Through the generous support of members, South Main has contributed over 55,000 pairs of new shoes toward the project. This generosity has helped children around the world experience God’s love and hope.

Once again, you can make a difference in a child’s life.

New shoes can now be brought to the Welcome Center at South Main Baptist Church. If you prefer to make a cash donation, you may do so by writing a check to South Main and indicating that it’s for “Buckner Shoes.”

 Contact Henry Hill at 713-829-3989 for more information.