Crossover to assist ‘Loving Houston’

Crossover to assist ‘Loving Houston’

When Southern Baptists cooperate to reach people for Christ, it’s always effective, said Darrell Robinson, a former pastor and longtime evangelist from Texas.

Hundreds of Southern Baptists will arrive June 8 for Crossover Saturday the weekend leading up to the 2013 annual Southern Baptist Convention. 

As in previous years, participants will help host block parties and special outreach events designed as opportunities to share the gospel. 

This year Southern Baptists will have additional opportunities to share Christ through ministry evangelism as Crossover Saturday aligns with a local initiative to serve the city. 

Houston’s Union Baptist Association is launching an initiative called “Loving Houston,” and a weeklong launch of the three-year initiative will culminate in a day of Crossover events involving Southern Baptists working alongside local churches as they serve the city and share Christ. 

“From the very beginning Crossover was designed to bless the city hosting the annual meeting,” said Al Gilbert, the North American Mission Board’s vice president for evangelism and executive director of LoveLoud. “Since Houston is one of the largest cities in the U.S. there is a need for many different kinds of opportunities for the people who live in Houston and for those who will be coming to town a day early.” 

Tom Billings, executive director of the Union Baptist Association, said he hopes this will bring opportunities to share the love of Christ in words and deeds.

“We are doing this because we are Christ-followers. Jesus went about doing good and taught His followers to do the same,” Billings said. “By doing good we hope folks will ask, ‘Who are you and why are you doing this?’”

For more information on Crossover, visit www.namb.net/crossover. To join the Loving Houston outreach opportunities, visit www.lovinghouston.net.

(BP)