Everett, who has been serving as the congregation's interim pastor, will begin as pastor Jan. 16, according to the Baptist General Convention of Texas website. He has served as BGCT executive director since April 2008. The Fort Worth native came to the BGCT position from the pastorate of First Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and various other pastorates, including three churches in Texas.
In a video statement posted on the convention's website, Everett thanked BGCT churches for the opportunity to serve as executive director and said he believes the convention is poised to continue its outreach to people across the state.
During Everett's tenure, the BGCT launched Texas Hope 2010, an initiative that aimed to share the Gospel with every person in Texas by Easter 2010. The effort emphasized praying for non-Christians, caring for people -- especially the hungry -- and sharing the Gospel. During the emphasis, more than 860,000 Gospel CDs, as well as Bibles, were distributed. The BGCT also gave a record of more than $1.8 million through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger and increased church-based feeding efforts.
The BGCT recently began building off the Hope 2010 momentum by launching Hope 1:8, an initiative based on Acts 1:8 that encourages sharing the Gospel locally, statewide and to the ends of the earth.
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In the video, Everett said he prays that First Baptist Church in Midland will be a key Hope 1:8 congregation.
"In these past three years, I've been able to see face-to-face what's going on in many our churches and in our institutions," Everett said in the video. "I've never been more excited to be part of the Texas Baptist family than I am right now. God has brought together a wonderful resource of people, of institutions, a great heritage and a great future. When we really cooperate together, we can do things like end hunger in Texas or share the hope of Christ with every person in our state."
The BGCT is one of two conventions in Texas that cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention. The other is the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
Adapted from information provided by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Copyright (c) 2010 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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