A little over a year ago my dad, Dr. Charles P. McLaughlin, passed away.  The first anniversary of his death and the long awaited arrival of the headstone for the cemetery in Paint Rock, Texas, created some moments of reflection.

 Dad was a public figure in Baptist work for most of my life.  I was five years old when he first went to work in the Baptist Building in Dallas.  As a family we all felt that we shared him with Texas Baptists.

 Mr. State Missions

 The way Texas Baptists will remember "Mr. State Missions," is best summarized in a paragraph of the resolution honoring him that was presented to my family on November 9,1998 at the BGCT in Houston.  It read,  Whereas Texas Baptists, while Dr. Charlie was director of the State Missions Commission from 1964-87, baptized more than 1.3 million people, started thousands of new churches, launched MISSION TEXAS which culminated in beginning more than 2,000 new churches from 1985-90, launched the River Ministry to share the Water of Life with millions of people along the Rio Grande, increased the Mary Hill Davis Offering from $400,000 to $5 million and through the special offering carried out numerous missions ministries including providing a college education for hundreds of ethnic students and helping the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Fellowship to progress to convention status...

I have been told many stories that are not included about dad's personal touch in people's lives.  As a family we are grateful for how Texas Baptists have graciously shared their feelings for my father.

The last year and a half of his life I had the opportunity to spend much time with dad because he stayed in his bed at home.  Many times I thought we would lose him, only to have the phenomenon of his getting enough strength to venture to Glorieta for Texas Week just a month before he went to be with the Lord.

 Shared Hope

 The many times that dad and I talked when he was bedridden, led to discussions about Texas Baptist life and the future.  It was our hope that Texas Baptists will remember our great heritage from the past but move forward with creativity and faithfulness to even greater future.  More churches are needed to reach our growing state. As the Texas population continues to grow in ethnic diversity so should the ministry of our state convention, including staff leadership in the Baptist Building.

Texas could become a base for training (and possibly sending) Hispanic missionaries to reach an exploding Hispanic population.  Trained leadership will require greater educational opportunities.    Finding ways to increase funding to Texas Baptist schools will always be a challenge, but one that must be met.

Other areas with inadequate funding are our institutions that provide social ministries, such as Buckner Baptist Benevolences. As Ken Hall stated at the TBC convocation, Texas Baptists' future is inextricably tied to how well we involve ourselves in human welfare ministry and Christian education... Texas Baptists give almost as much to theological education outside of Texas as we do to care for neglected and abused children and families in Texas.

 BGCT Worthy of Support

 I am glad dad did not live to read the letter from the Texas Baptist Laymen's Association that was mass mailed to pastors, accusing Texas Baptist leaders of advancing liberal causes such as homosexuality.  This type of misinformation by using misleading innuendo always hurt dad because it harmed cooperative efforts to meet the growing needs of the Lord's work.

My father did not like this type of mean spiritedness by fundamentalists or by conservative/moderates.  There were times I understood dad's concern about moderates, but I would remind him that the moderates did not start the political fight, they did not fire and force people out of jobs and their pastors did not coerce churches to leave the BGCT.

No church should consider reducing its funding of the BGCT, much less leaving it for a fundamentalist splinter convention, while there is so much work to be done for the Kingdom. Needs are too great and the BGCT is the only means to be a part of such vital work in Texas.

As my dad said upon receiving the Pioneer Award for service in missions, For whatever I would charge Texas Baptists to do and to be, I would pray that, number one, you would be strong in your support of Texas Baptists.

September 1999