Líderes de la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas y Buckner Internacional se reunieron el 12 de enero en las oficinas de Buckner para firmar un acuerdo que los dos grupos dicen que facilitará programas de misiones y servicios misioneros para la comunidad cristiana hispana. Entre los asistentes a la firma fueron (de izquierda a derecha): Sergio Ramos, director de la expansión y el desarrollo para Buckner; JoAnn Cole, vicepresidente de Buckner Children and Family Services (Servicios para Niños y Familias); presidente de Buckner Albert L. Reyes; presidente de CBHT Jesse Rincones; Rolando Rodríguez, director del trabajo hispano de la Convención Bautista General de Texas; y Felipe Garza, vicepresidente de expansión y desarrollo para Buckner. - Foto de Russ Dilday, Buckner International

Por Russ Dilday
Buckner News Service

DALLAS – Líderes de la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas y Buckner Internacional se juntaron el 12 de enero en las oficinas de Buckner para firmar un acuerdo que los dos grupos dicen que facilitará programas de misiones y servicios misioneros para la comunidad cristiana hispana. Jesse Rincones, presidente de la CBHT, co-firmó el “Pacto Misionero” con el presidente de Buckner, Albert L. Reyes.

En general, el pacto le da a cada grupo un perfil más alto en la promoción de misiones, ofrece más oportunidades para que los miembros de la Convención participen en misiones de servicio voluntario, y tiene por objeto mejorar el trabajo de Shoes for Orphan Souls (Zapatos para Húerfanos), el proyecto de Buckner de ayuda humanitaria. Read the rest of this entry

By Russ Dilday
Buckner News Service

DALLAS — Leaders of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and Buckner International met Jan. 12 at the Buckner ministry offices to sign agreement that both groups say will help facilitate missions enrichment programs and services for the Hispanic Christian community. Jesse Rincones, president of the 1,100-congregation HBCT, co-signed the “Missions Covenant” document with Buckner President Albert L. Reyes.

In general, the covenant gives each group a higher profile in the other’s missions messaging, offers added opportunities for convention members to participate in volunteer missions service, and seeks to enhance the work of Buckner’s Shoes for Orphan Souls humanitarian aid drive.  

Reyes said the covenant will give Buckner “a more intentional and deliberate focus on the importance of the local church and on our mission,” adding, “This will connect us not just to churches, but churches with a common Hispanic background, language and culture. There are many things we’ll do to tap that background in countries and areas with similar cultures.” Read the rest of this entry

My third week in Peru, my team and I served the community of Pamplona at a Buckner Community Transformation Center. I had only been in Peru for two weeks and my most recent Spanish class was in high school. Language was a barrier for me. However, one little girl reminded me that sharing God’s love does not always require a translator.

Her name is Maria Belen. Belen is 5 years old, owns a little dog named Chocolate and loves to dance and play hide-and-seek. She also does not speak any English.

Her beautiful smile was the first to greet me each day and she was the last one to give me a hug when I left. We often communicated nonverbally and by the end of the week I could understand her rather well. What I did not know was how much she understood from me. Read the rest of this entry

Buckner Missions is currently seeking volunteers to travel to Honduras March 11-15 on the annual mother-daughter mission trip.

Mother-daughter mission trips offer a chance to bond over shared experiences in an environment like no other.

Barb McDonald and her daughter, Annie, went on the trip to Guatemala last year, when a painful diagnosis prompted Barb to start living out her dreams:

In August 2009 I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. I asked my doctor what I should do. He suggested that I live in three-month increments and do all the things I want to do in that time. Annie, my daughter, and I had been discussing going on a trip to serve orphans so I went on the search. I turned to Buckner first because I had heard about Shoes for Orphan Souls trips on our local Christian radio station, KLOVE.   Read the rest of this entry

Summer may seem like a far-off dream right now for many young people who have been so unceremoniously yanked from the leisurely days of Christmas break back into the frenzied start of a new semester. But now is the time to start planning the best summer of your life.

Project Go is a summer missions program for college students and recent graduates who want to serve orphans and vulnerable children.

Students can serve in Peru, Kenya, Russia, the Rio Grande Valley, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic or Mexico. Session One takes place from May 31 to July 1. Session Two is from July 9 to August 9. Volunteers can also serve for a full summer.

Country preferences are taken into consideration, but assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline to apply is February 5.

“After these trips, their whole world view changes,” said Analiz Schremmer, volunteer recruitment and fulfillment coordinator. “I know Project Go has helped a lot of individuals find their calling and decide what they want to do with their lives professionally. Some people have come out knowing they want to adopt one day. Others decide they want to go into full-time ministry or social work.” Read the rest of this entry

By Diamond Richardson
Buckner International

DALLAS – Participants in HIV prevention education classes held at Buckner International’s Simari Ridge Community Resource Center graduated from the program in a ceremony at the Urban League of Greater Dallas administration offices.

“One of our guiding principles is to empower the community through the power of life,” said Loretta Johnson, health director for the Urban League of Greater Dallas, to the graduates. “The life that each of you are saving by completing this program is your own.”  Read the rest of this entry

By Chelsea Quackenbush
Buckner International

BEAUMONT – Fifteen years of foster parenting paid off with a Region V Foster Parents of the Year award for Monica and Ivory Garrett, but that’s not why they do it.

For the Garretts, it’s a calling God placed on their hearts more than a decade ago.

“God mandates us to take care of our offerings, of our children,” Monica said. “God put me in my place and I just give my life away. It’s how I find my joy.” Read the rest of this entry

By Chelsea Quackenbush
Buckner International

BEAUMONT – Dave “Daddy Dave” Bleakley first met Amelia by chance at a Buckner Children’s Village reunion in Beaumont. Two-week-old Amelia was the youngest alumna and Daddy Dave was the oldest. Buckner staff thought it would make a cool photo, so they placed the tiny girl in his arms.

“What’s her name?” he asked.

“Amelia.”

His eyes welled with tears. His late wife, known fondly as “Mama Anne,” never let anyone call her by her real name – Amelia Anne Bleakley. At the time, no one knew that circumstances over the next few months would bring them back together. Read the rest of this entry

By Lauren Hollon Sturdy
Buckner International

BEAUMONT – Each year, Buckner staff in Beaumont think they’ve “seen it all” in the world of gingerbread houses, but every December, competitors prove them wrong.

The annual Gingerbread Competition brings out the artist, eccentric, child or comedian in people, from peaceful, candy-covered winter scenes to a wacky and lifelike representation of a scene from the classic holiday movie Christmas Vacation.

Eighty-four participants entered 31 gingerbread houses in this community-wide competition sponsored by the Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association and the Lamar University Hospitality Program. Read the rest of this entry