TIMELINE:
COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP
2001
After surveying and identifying the poorest and most disadvantaged regions in the USA, CBF started Together for Hope, asking a church to volunteer for a 20-year commitment in one of 20 counties. The focus was education, health & nutrition, housing & environment and microenterprise
- Support churches each year with grants ($400-$600).
- Buckner International joined CBF to form Kids Heart Rio Grande Valley
2002
FBC College Station joined other churches for Kids Heart Week
- Participants stayed in housing provided by Valley Baptist Academy. Noon meals were provided by the Baptist Men of Texas. Ministry work began in Progresso
- While Dr. Rodney McGlothlin was at a planning meeting in Rio Grande Valley that year, a call came from Irma Cantu, Director of Lasara Community Center, asking that the community of Lasara be included in the program. Dr. McGlothlin met with Irma Cantu, the high school principal, and the school superintendent. At that time, no ministry work was being done in Willacy County, the poorest county in Texas. Dr. McGlothlin asked that FBCCS be assigned to Lasara the next year.
2003
2003 Marked the first year FBC started going to Lasara. Lasara Independent School District opened the community center for sewing classes and the noon meal. VBS began at Iglesia Bautista. Construction and repair of homes, a dental clinic and medical services were included in the program. Medical and dental were only provided for two years
2005
LISD offered the school cafeteria so that the noon and evening meals could be served to participants. Steve Rogers and his crew began serving meals. Over 100 people have been served at times by the cooking ministry
2006
Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights TX and Elkins Lake Baptist Church, Huntsville TX joined FBCCS in the ministry at Lasara. Harker Heights coordinated VBS and joined in the other projects. Elkins Lake coordinated the clothing drive, distribution and the Block Party as well as participating in the other projects
2013
A request came to include San Isidro in our ministry program. FBC Bryan sent a team to help us in Lasara and San Isidro and have since adopted San Isidro. FBCB continues their ministry in San Isidro
2016
Request by two people at the same time, asking us to consider starting a ministry in Sebastian.
2017
Some of our team, along with two people from Calvary Fellowship in Bryan met with some people in Sebastian interested in beginning a ministry there. The following year no personnel were available. That ministry has not yet come to fruition
2020
The COVID Pandemic caused the cancellation of the South Texas Ministry
Sadly, our dedicated contact in Lasara, Irma Cantu, died in May of 2020, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2019. Friends of Irma Cantu established an Endowed Scholarship in her memory at Texas A&M University, the alma mater of her three daughters, Jennifer, Stacy and Julissa
2021
A small group travelled to Lasara for construction projects
2022
The South Texas Ministry resumed. Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights did not participate
FBCCS assumed responsibility for VBS and sports camps.
2023
All activities continued
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HISTORY OF THE SEWING MINISTRY:
COME BACK SOON FOR MORE INFORMATION!
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, DONATIONS & INTEREST IN OUR MINISTRY! WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT, NOR CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
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