Dear Baptist Charities Co-Laborers,
Thank you for your ongoing support and shared burden to reach those in need across the nation and around the world through Christ’s local churches. This is the pattern we see in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 8 & 9), and Rodgers Baptist Church is honored to sponsor a church-based charity through which 100% of funds designated for the needy go directly to trusted churches at the point of need.
From its inception, Baptist Charities has aimed to aid and equip churches in their most difficult times and to live out the gospel by demonstrating the love of Christ to those who are hurting. In 1 John 3:17–18 we read:
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
These verses remind us that true compassion is shown both by our words and by our actions. The gospel message must be communicated and the implications of the gospel must be demonstrated.
With this truth in mind, our ministry efforts continue, and God has burdened our church to see it grow and thrive. As Pastor Travis Gilbert mentioned in our last letter, I (Clayton Wilson) and Bro. Josh Soliz have been moved by God to step out in faith and build on the work accomplished over the past eight years. Moving forward, we are committed to sending bi-monthly updates (every other month) to keep you informed of what’s being done through your faithful giving. Additional letters may be sent as needed for special updates.
Since it may have been some time since the mission and vision of Baptist Charities was last communicated, we want to take a moment to restate it clearly:
We serve alongside local churches to meet urgent needs and build lasting impact.
Areas of service include:
- Disaster relief through local churches
- Supporting missionaries facing natural disasters
- Equipping churches to minister to the homeless
- Developing ministries for children in poverty
- Assisting in the establishment of children’s homes worldwide
These are no small tasks—but we serve a great God. With His help, we aim to grow these efforts, always working through His churches to share Christ’s love with a hurting world.
Central Texas Flood Relief
Since our last letter, there hasn’t been much activity to report—until now. As you likely know, Central Texas was recently devastated by flooding in the Guadalupe River Valley. Within 45 minutes, 26 inches of rain fell overnight with little warning. As of the most recent reports, at least 134 people have died, over 100 are still missing, and countless others have lost their homes, possessions, and loved ones.
How Baptist Charities is responding:
We are partnering with several local churches in the impacted area to support their outreach efforts:
- Kerrville – Victory Baptist Church:
- VBC is organizing a community-wide Backpack & School Supply Drive on August 9 from 12:00–4:00 p.m. With many churches and organizations already overwhelmed with food and clothing donations, this drive will take a different approach. The goal is to distribute at least 400 backpacks and Bibles. Baptist Charities will be donating to this effort.
- San Angelo – Oasis Baptist Church:
- Although the San Angelo area didn’t receive as much media attention, it also experienced catastrophic flooding. Over 12,100 structures were affected. Many residents lost homes, vehicles, and belongings. We were seeking a local church to partner with in this area, and Oasis Baptist Church has answered the call. They plan to organize a relief effort similar to what Victory Baptist is doing in Kerrville.
Preparing to Respond: Proactive Disaster Relief
While we will always respond when disaster strikes, we also want to be proactive—ready to act quickly and effectively when needs arise. To do this, we need to grow both our support base and our network of churches. Financial support is essential but so is having a network of local churches ready to respond when needs emerge in their communities.
As hurricane season approaches, the likelihood of further disasters increases. Please pray with us about this—and if you know of churches located in vulnerable coastal regions, let us know. We’d love to reach out in advance and be ready when the time comes.
Reaching the Homeless: The Least, The Last & the Left Out
Rodgers Baptist Church has been increasingly burdened by the growing homeless population in our nation, state, and city. Recent statistics show an 18% increase in homelessness from 2023 to 2024. Every day, over 771,000 people in the U.S. are experiencing homelessness. Many of these individuals arrive at the doors of our churches—but sadly, many churches feel unequipped to minister to them.
This should not be the case. Local churches—not government programs—should be the ones stepping in to meet these needs.
In response, RBC sought guidance and connected with Bro. Jonathan Myers of 2nd Chance Baptist Church in Farmers Branch, TX. Bro. Myers and 2nd Chance have extensive experience ministering to the homeless, and God has burdened him to help other churches learn how to start and sustain these ministries.
A seminar was recently held at Rodgers as both a training tool and a pilot for future sessions that could be offered to local churches. Our hope is to equip more congregations to reach those often overlooked. Please pray for God’s direction as we explore adding this ministry to Baptist Charities’ efforts.
Thank you again for your prayers and support. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Grace and Peace to You,
Clayton Wilson & Josh Soliz
Rodgers Baptist Church | Travis Gilbert, Senior Pastor
P.O. Box 460639, Garland, Texas 75046 | (972) 675-4800 | www.rodgersbaptist.net
