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ISAAC’S SECOND IMMIGRANT OUTREACH CONFERENCE

The ISAAC Project is pleased to announce its Second Immigrant Outreach Conference.  It will take place in Houston, Texas on Friday, September 9 and Saturday September 10, 2011.  Pastor Johnnie Musquiz and Iglesia Bautista Houston will be our hosts.

The ISAAC Conference will have as its central theme issues of legal immigration relief to the most vulnerable and helpless sectors of society: women, children and victims of abuse, violence and crimes.

The roster of speakers will include immigration lawyers and federally accredited representatives of different non-profit agencies involved in loving, reaching and serving the immigrant community in Texas.

The topics covered will be:  family petitions, legal relief for women under the Violence Against Women Act, Temporary Protected Status, Cancellations of Removal, legal relief for minors under the Special Immigrant Juvenile provision, and “U” Visas for victims of crimes.

Details are being finalized for this conference.  There will be more information about registration fees and lodging in the weeks to come.

If you wish to know more details, contact
Email Jesús Romero,
or call 210-633-6257

Paired Up & Prepared: Hunger Meal & Global Marketplace (pdf)

By combining the ministry efforts of the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger and Good News Goods, participants are provided with a first-hand experience of global poverty and inequality followed by opportunities to be good news to the poor in their everyday giving and spending.

The World Hunger Offering’s Hunger Meal
is a poverty simulation experience that draws attention to the vast disparity between people groups around the world.  Organizers and participants alike can experience first-hand how our decisions impact “the least of these.”   While only a few will leave with full stomachs, all will leave with a greater understanding of global poverty and will walk away compelled to be an agent of change, building for God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

The Good News Goods Global Market
is a shopping event, hosted at and by your church or university, where people can browse, sample, and choose from a large display of Fair Trade products, place their orders at the market, & have products shipped directly to their address.  This event allows for a more personal connection to hardworking poor artisans and farmers around the world, as well as a convenient and fun way to positively impact the world with our spending.

…If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

-Isaiah 58:10 (NIV 2011)

How will this work?

The Hunger Meal
serves as the poverty exposure piece, so it is to be facilitated prior to the global market.  Food preparation and set up will take approximately an hour and a half, and the meal will last approximately one hour.  World Hunger Offering brochures, envelopes, and money banks will also be available for participants to take with them.

The Global Market
serves as a continuum of the poverty experience and as an action piece.  Set-up and tear-down takes up to an hour and a half each.  The marketplace can be open as long as you wish.

Additional information and necessary printable resources and videos are available at TexasBaptists.org/WorldHunger & GoodNewsGoods.com/Fair-Trade-Market

Both the Offering for World Hunger and Good News Goods are ministries of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, and provide tangible ways to follow Jesus, who ministered to the whole person as He proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed (Luke 4:18).

For more information, see our brochure (pdf),
or contact joyce.gilbreath@texasbaptists.org
or anne.olson@texasbaptists.org

How you can help:
Helping the Hungry
Getting involved with the summer feeding programs

MAKE A DONATION IN MEMORY/HONOR OF SOMEONE

Would you like to remember or honor someone special this year? Instead of a gift that will just collect dust why not make a donation in their name to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. Let your gift go much further in doing good work for those who are less fortunate.
Donate now!

5^th Sunday Hunger Offering Videos
Next 5th Sunday Emphasis for World Hunger – May 29, 2011.  Prepare now.
Download 5th Sunday videos

With just under a month left before its end, the 82^nd Legislative Session is still in full swing. Many of the Christian Life Commission’s priority bills have made progress in both the House and the Senate, and the Austin office staff is working hard to ensure that the legislation we find ethical and meaningful gets to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

Food Policy

The Texas Food Policy Roundtable held an extremely successful “Farm to Capitol” advocacy day, where advocates, legislators and legislative staff were briefed about food-related issues around the state. The purpose of this special day is to brief legislators, legislative staff and other advocates at the Capitol about food-related issues around the state.Senator Lucio (D- Brownsville), Rep. Hughes (R- Marshall), Rep. Veasey (D-Fort Worth) and Rep. Rodriguez (D- Austin), spoke on food bills they have filed, as well as Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs and Assistant Commissioner of Food and Nutrition for the Texas Department of Agriculture Angela Olige. View an inspiring news clip from the day, including an interview with our director Suzii Paynter.

Of the roughly 18 food policy bills filed, some are making great progress in the legislative process.

• SB 89 by Lucio (D-Brownsville), a bill that would expand USDA summer nutrition programs in the state, has passed through the Senate and is expected to be passed out of the House Agriculture and Livestock committee in the next couple of days.
• SB 199 by West (D-Dallas), a bill that allows nonprofit organizations that partner urban school districts to apply for Texas Department of Agriculture grants, has passed through the Senate, through the House Agriculture and Livestock committee, and is now recommended for the House Local and Consent calendar.
• SB 226 by Nelson (R-Flower Mound), a bill that would allow the Texas Education Agency to better analyze fitness data gathered by individual school districts to address childhood obesity, has passed through the Senate and has been referred to the House Public Education committee.
• SB 796 by Nelson (R-Flower Mound), a bill that creates a statewide diabetes registry to measure costs of prevention vs. treatment, has been placed on the House Local and Consent calendar.

Human Trafficking

Bills to fight human trafficking in Texas have been extremely successful this session, with Governor Perry, the Attorney General, and Republican and Democrat legislators making this battle a priority.

• SB 24 by Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) has already been signed by Governor Perry, which is indeed a blessing for law enforcement and victim’s services units fighting human trafficking. This bill addresses a majority of the attorney general taskforce’s recommendations on prosecution of human trafficking, and it tightens up the by clarifying definitions and separating adult from child victims.
• HB 1994 by Weber (R-Pearland), a bill that allows municipalities and counties to hold a first-offender prostitution program – better known as a “john’s school” – has been placed on the House Calendar for debate on the floor.
• HB 2015 by Thompson (D-Houston), a bill that would place the offense of minor prostitution under the category of “Child in Need of Supervision,” has been voted favorably from the Senate Criminal Justice committee.

Environmental Stewardship

CLC priority environmental stewardship legislation, specifically energy policy that directly affects our congregations and non-profits, made great strides this session with bi-partisan support. Additionally, the CLC has historically supported the recycling and reuse of electronic waste and has been glad to work on the television recycling bill this session, building on past work on e-waste such as computer recycling. All three bills passed both chambers.

• HB 2077 by Rodriguez (D-Austin) and Deuell (R-Greenville) creates a LoanSTAR Pilot Program for Houses of Worship and Community Based Organizations. This bill authored by Rep. Rodriguez, Austin will create a pilot program within the existing LoanSTAR program. The LoanSTAR program has been successful at giving low-interest loans to government entities through the State Energy Conservation Office since 1989.

• HB 1064 by Pitts (R-Waxahachie) and Senator Eltife (R-Tyler), known as the ratchet bill, exempts certain customers from demand ratchet charges by utilities, and charges them based on their actual peak for a month rather than on a rolling peak which includes the last 11 months. This means that if your church has a low load factor your congregation will realize he benefits of energy efficiency and behavioral changes that month rather than waiting up to 10 or 11 months.
• SB 329/ HB 1966 by Senator Watson (D-Austin) and Representative Chisum (R-Pampa), provides the infrastructure for a TV Recycling program in Texas. TV manufacturers create a recovery plan for collecting, reusing, and recycling televisions.

The end of school brings about many fun events for high school students and produces many happy memories.  Unfortunately, with prom, graduation and end of the year parties many students and families face pain and even tragedy when a fun event has an unwanted ending.  There are things that parents, youth ministers and caring adults can do to help the students make good choices and in turn life long memories.

It is important that parents and youth leaders clearly communicate to students the expectations, values and Christian principles that need to shape their decision making and actions.  In reality, peer pressure can be both positive and negative.  The end of school is a great time for students to make a stand for their values and faith by having a Christ-like response to their peers.  If a student has at least two other friends, who will stand with him or her then it is much easier to make a choice not to drink or do drugs.

The big events at the end of school also provide opportunities for churches to provide after party events where a safe environment and sponsors can be provided.

Equally important is that parents help their student make plans for the events with a structure that provides a fun but safe atmosphere and accountability with peers, leaders and parents.  Plans for events need to be agreed to and followed through with.  These plans need to include a budget that is realistic and where the student helps with the costs of the date and event.  With proper planning hopefully parents can ensure that the memories will produce smiles and laughter for years to come.

A drama unfolded on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives this week. It was a parable of Biblical proportions – money, self interest, moral outrage and free market politics. If someone tells you that Christian ethics is irrelevant, dead or outdated, just provide them a link to the debate on the House floor from this week.  The debate begins at the 3 hours and 48 minute mark of video.

The bills – by Rep. Vickie Truitt (R-Keller) presented her bills to begin a disclosure and license process for payday lending and auto title loan businesses. The conflict of interest – Rep Gary Elkins ( R – Houston) owns 12 payday loan sites across Texas. He challenged the bills by defending his business; his desire was to eviscerate the payday loan bills by striking the “enacting clause” that makes them law. The parliamentary procedural gadfly – Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (R – Dallas) continually tried to kill the bills with more than 5 parliamentary procedure challenges (points of order) and strong statements that these bills were massive government overreach and over-regulation of business. The loyal opposition – Former House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) opposed the bills because they were too soft on the industry and didn’t have enough regulation to truly help the consumer (like the Midland woman who paid endless fees on a burial loan). The auto dealer – Rep. Patricia Harliss (R-Spring ) another  small business owner who acknowledged the uncomfortable necessity of regulation, because she finances the family car only to see it repossessed by unscrupulous auto-title lenders who are not governed by the same rules. In the gallery were more than $5 million dollars of lobbyists for the payday industry and the coalition of payday reform lobbyists (seven religious and nonprofit groups).

You could hear a pin drop. Legislators usually buzzing around on the floor and hallways were in their desks riveted to tense, sometimes personal battle over payday lending reform bills.

Whether you are a Texas legislator or Joe Christian, our values are not played out in big sweeping statements or through bumper sticker quips. Our values are forged daily by the actions we take to promote Christian principles and Biblical priorities.

These questions, played out in Austin, are not that different than the judgment calls we are asked to make every day. If some law directly benefits you and your business, do you take the microphone and defend your position? Do you vote on the bill? Do you argue but don’t vote? How do you handle an obvious conflict of interest? If you have a direct advantage, do you use it? If you favor free market principles, does that also include allowing loopholes for financial products that are otherwise regulated? Payday loans? Auto-title loans? Mortgages too? If you favor regulation and consumer protection,, do you protect them to the extent that you take away their choice for short term help? do you take away the choice to do something totally adverse to their own financial future? What is fair? What is right? What is a bridge too far? In the heat of debate, what do you actually say about your opponent? How do you characterize them? as anti-business? as a schlep for the industry? as a liberal sellout? as naive? and when you have made your point, do you make it again and again and again?

At one pivotal climax in the heated debate, Rep. Truitt summed up her bills and gestured with arms raised above her head – pointing first to the payday owner, she said ” So I am regulating way too much,” and then pointing to the loyal opposition on the other side of the chamber she continued, “and I’m not doing nearly enough. Now you see what I have been up against during this whole process.” she finished with a tone of exhausted exasperation….soon after that, the vote was taken.

The vote, although important, was not the measure of the ethics that will shape our lives. The ethics of the debate was played out line by line, person by person all though this process…Values of thrift, not debt. Values of balance, not advantage. Values of personal respect even in the heat of debate. Righteous anger. Was there unfair treatment of other bills and negating colleagues and collaborative leadership? It is confusing and unclear. Ethical processes are not often lines in the sand, but a continuous series of small decisions and attitudes that loom large as a collective power.

The Thrift report (.pdf) that we are featuring this month is a document that emphasizes some of the guiding principles about thrift, prosperity and financial stability. It also emphasizes the principle of balance versus greed that is echoed in the parables of Jesus and the laws of the tribes of Israel. Relevant Christian ethics are a rudder to the ship of values as we continue to make decisions on this and other important issues for Texas. I am very thankful to God that as pastors, lay leaders or church members, your convictions find their way into the public square. Do not be afraid to speak up.

Senate Floor – HB 2592: Sen. Davis on Payday Lending – May 23, 2011

36 brave cyclists from all over Texas rode up and down the hills of East Texas for 6 days!  Grueling at times!  Exhilarating at others!

Bike Out Hunger is now history…but your opportunity to reward these cyclists by giving to the Hunger Offering in their name at www.bikeouthunger.org lives on. You can still honor them!

VIDEOS

Bike Out Hunger 2011 – Day 1: What we’re riding for
Bike Out Hunger 2011 – Day 2: Matt Robb, Green Acres Baptist Church
Bike Out Hunger 2011 – Day 4 Some pain, spiritual eyes, empty stomachs and hearing the gospel

Kaitlin Warrington’s Blog

Bike Out Hunger
Bike Out Hunger 2011 Day 2: Yoda, hills and suffering
Bike Out Hunger 2011 Day 3: It’s about the people, not the ride
Bike Out Hunger 2011 Day 4: A peanut butter sandwich and working together
Bike Out Hunger 2011 Day 5: Lamenting, 90 miles and helping the hungry

Guest Article

The Pull of The Road: What Bike Out Hunger 2011 taught me

Our were made stronger… Thank You!

This session the CLC has been aided by many Texas Baptist friends and supporters who have put their Christian Ethical beliefs into action. Our advocacy is more effective when our voice is enhanced by the voices of Baptist laity and pastors from all corners of our state. Our work on payday and auto title lending reform, in particular, generated a passionate response from CLC supporters who wanted to lend their strength to our efforts. The following Texas Baptists took time out of their schedules to call or visit lawmakers, testify in committee hearings, speak at a press conference or write letters to the editors of their local newspaper. Their efforts helped to convince lawmakers that predatory lending is a real problem in their communities and that something should be done about it. Going forward, we will once again need their help and the help of others, to continue to work toward justice in the small dollar lending market in Texas. A special thanks to those below

Dr. Chad Chaddick, Northeast Baptist Church, San Antonio, TX

Dr. Jeff Johnson, First Baptist Church, Del Rio, TX

Dr. Joseph Parker, David Chapel, Austin, TX

Dr. Jay Abernathy, First Baptist Church, Palestine, TX

Dr. John Ogletree, First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Houston, TX

Rev. Charlie Singleton, BGCT African American Fellowship & First Missionary Baptist Church, Ft. Worth

Rev.Gerald Davis, BGCT Community Development & Cornerstone Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas

Rev. Charlie Johnson, First Baptist Church, Desdemona

Dr. Mike Massar, Sugarland Baptist Church

Dr. Van Christian, First Baptist Church, Comanche

Many members of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Dallas

In addition, our efforts were made stronger this session by our colleagues in other faith groups here in Austin. Specifically we would like to thank our coalition partners in Texas Faith for Fair Lending – Texas Impact and The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Many other organizations were critical partners including – AARP, Texas Appleseed, Goodwills of Texas, the Center for Public Policy Priorities, Texas NAACP, RAISE Texas, United Ways of Texas, and Liberty Institute.

We’d also like to think the following legislators and their staffs for the hours of hard work and dedication to this issue.

Rep. Vicki Truitt

Rep. Tom Craddick

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez

Rep. Joe Farias

Rep. Rafeal Anchia

Sen. John Carona

Sen. Wendy Davis

Sen. Royce West

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte

As always, we are grateful for the loyal support of our commission members –

Mike Massar – Chair | Williams Trace Baptist Church | Sugarland TX

Van Christian | First Baptist Church | Comanche TX

Phil Christopher | First Baptist Church | Abilene TX

Carmen Estrada | El Paso, TX

Michael Evans | Bethlehem Baptist Church | Mansfield TX

Mike Fanning | The Fellowship of San Antonio | San Antonio TX

David Holcomb | Belton TX

Ken Hugghins | Elkins Lake Baptist Church | Huntsville TX

Shan Kinnison | Waxahachie TX

Richard Munoz  | Dallas TX

John Ogletree | First Metropolitan Church | Houston TX

Susan Rushing | Lufkin TX

Vince Smith | Houston TX

Texas Thrift Report

Texas is a proud state. In particular, we are proud of a robust business climate that has enabled our state to avoid many of the most dramatic effects of the recent recession.  However, in many ways our Texas families are hurting. Out of all fifty states, Texas ranks #2 in childhood food insecurity (hunger) and #1 in the percent of citizens who lack health insurance. We are ranked 43rd in per pupil spending on public education, and 43rd in high school graduation rate. We believe it is high time that the state direct as much energy and effort into creating a family-friendly economy as we have in creating our business-friendly climate.

Another set of statistics is particularly troubling for our families. Texas ranks 48^th in average household net worth at $45,434 but we have a median installment debt per household of $16, 289, ranking us 46^th. By combining the above statistics one can easily see why it is hard for Texas families to thrive. Texas should enact policies that help our citizens become secure and self reliant. The state should do what it can to encourage our families to save, not to go into debt and gamble away their future.

In April, the CLC, in partnership with the Institute for American values, released a report entitled “Thrift or Debt, Which Direction is Right for Texas?” (Thrift Report – Thrift or Debt Which is the Right Direction for Texas.pdf).  The focus of the report is the rise of anti-thrift institutions and the public policy decisions which created them. In particular we are concerned about predatory lending and state sponsored gambling. The framers of our state constitution understood how dangerous a debt and bet culture would be to future prosperity. Gambling was completely prohibited in the constitution and any interest over 10% was considered usury. It’s time we recognized the wisdom of these policies and returned to an era of thrift.

As part of the report we engaged Knowledge Networks, Inc. to conduct the 2010 Survey of Texas Savers. The results were alarming –

• More than one-third of middle to lower income households have less than $1,000 in total savings.
• Of households earning less than $30,000 per year, two-thirds have less than $1,000 in total savings.
• Ten percent of households earning under $30,000 per year have only the cash in their wallet or purse.

Yet the survey also found that Texans want to save more –

• For Texans earning less than $100,000 their number one financial goal was saving more – building up a larger emergency fund.
• 52% of survey respondents said it is harder for them to save than compared to their parent’s generation.

The survey revealed Texans have strong attitudes regarding anti-thrift institutions –

• 65% of lower to middle income Texans see payday lenders as unhelpful financial resources
• 56.3% see the Texas Lottery as unhelpful
• 59.6% believe that the gambling industry makes its profit by exploiting human weakness
• 47.3% believe the gambling industry takes advantage of poor people
• 55.5% of Texans surveyed said the state should NOT expand state lotteries and state sponsored casinos.

The entire report can be found HERE

The legislative session is coming to a close; however our work is by no means done. The themes in this report will be a guide for how the CLC will engage churches, the public, and lawmakers on these issues. As long as the state needs to raise revenue gambling industry lobbyists will be paid millions of dollars to try and convince lawmakers that casinos would be good for Texas. While the legislature passed two bills addressing some of the problems with the payday and auto title industry, they are only first steps toward real reform. We will need all of our supporters to bring their sense of biblical justice to the public debate on these issues. The CLC is committed to providing the resources you need to educate yourself, your congregation and fellow church members as well as your elected officials about these issues – the future of Texas is at stake.