November 21, 2025

Dear Valued Partner and Friends of Baptist Charities, 

Two urgent needs have recently come to our attention. Each one reminds us how quickly churches and our brethren can find themselves in sudden, unexpected hardship—and how vital it is that we respond swiftly with support. 

We humbly ask that you prayerfully consider giving a love offering above your regular monthly support, so that we may continue assisting our sister churches as they carry out the ministries and work to which God has called them. Even if you do not currently support Baptist Charities on an ongoing basis, a one-time gift would be a tremendous blessing. 

Missionary Pastor Roel Garcia and Family – Devastated by Fire in Great Bend, Kansas 

Pastor Roel Garcia serves faithfully in Great Bend, Kansas, as a missionary from Mexico to the United States, sent out by Iglesia Bautista Tabernáculo in Denver, CO. Recently, the work experienced a devastating fire. The fire, caused by a propane tank leak, has not only severely damaged the church where he ministers, but tragically, it has also consumed the family’s living quarters within the church building, along with all of their personal belongings. 

This is a profound setback for Pastor Garcia, his wife (who suffered from some smoke inhalation but is otherwise recovering), their two daughters (aged 19 and 24), and their 9-year-old son. The part of the church where they lived is a total loss due to fire and water damage, meaning they have lost both their home and their ministry base. They are currently staying with a kind church member who had an extra room, but this is a temporary solution. The urgency of their situation is compounded by the severe winter conditions in Kansas, with temperatures near 0 degrees. They have lost everything and are facing immediate and acute personal losses. 

Their most pressing needs include: 

• Immediate Housing: A rental home for a minimum of 4-6 months while they recover and rebuild their lives and ministry. Their approximate budget for rent is $800 per month. 

• Essential Furnishings: Beds and other basic furniture for the entire family. 

• Clothing: New clothing for all family members (husband, wife, two daughters aged 19 & 24, and son aged 9). 

• Critical Personal Items: Eyeglasses for three individuals in the family. 

• Church Repairs/Rebuilding: Support to repair and rebuild their damaged church facility, which is central to their ministry. 

The images below offer a glimpse into the extent of the damage and the immediate challenges Pastor Garcia and his family are now facing.

2nd Chance Baptist Church – How Your Support Made an Immediate Difference  

In recent weeks, Baptist Charities was able to assist with urgent bus repair needs for 2nd Chance Baptist Church. This church has a long and faithful history of reaching out to the broken and downtrodden. For the past twenty years, they have ministered to people coming off the streets—meeting immediate physical needs while sharing the gospel and the love of God through both word and deed. 

Their outreach also includes picking up individuals from places such as Homeward Bound and Free Man House, bringing residents and those in rehabilitation to church services. Their bus is absolutely essential to these ongoing ministries.When the bus unexpectedly required major repairs, it threatened to halt their outreach entirely. Because of your generosity, Baptist Charities was able to cover the full cost of the repairs, allowing them to continue their ministries without interruption.

Below is a testimony from Pastor Jonathan Myers expressing how crucial this aid was to their church: 

“Thank you for helping us keep our old bus running. It is a critical part of our ministry and is a literal lifeline for people every Sunday and Wednesday. It faithfully helps us return lost sheep to the Good Shepherd. When it is out of service, we have to turn people away because there is no transportation. And since our church operates week-to-week financially, major bus repairs are a huge obstacle. Baptist Charities stepped up and within hours authorized funds to cover the entire repair bill. Praise the Lord that always provides, and bless the brothers and sisters in Christ that gave generously to meet this need. To God be the glory.” — Pastor Jonathan Myers 

Thank you again for your prayers and support. It is because of your faithful giving that Baptist Charities can continue to meet the urgent needs of our sister churches and co-laborers in Christ. 

It is our hope and prayer that we can continue expanding our network and strengthening our support base so that, when acute needs arise, we are equipped to respond quickly and help churches in their time of greatest need. 

Grace and Peace to You, 
Josh Soliz & Clayton Wilson 

Rodgers Baptist Church | Travis Gilbert, Pastor 
P.O. Box 460639, Garland, Texas 75046 | (972) 675-4800 | www.rodgersbaptist.net