The Fount, Volume 9, Spring Edition

TheFount

PHOTO CREDITS Lauren Benesh Suzann Herrmann Nathan Moeller

TELL THE STORIES AND SHARE THE JOURNEYS

BY SUSAN MOORE EXECUTIVE MINISTER

Of course it takes a whole team working many hours to put this project together: brainstorming writers and topics, gathering copy, designing, proofing, and distributing. It seems appropriate in this issue to introduce our Communications Team:

Jennifer Gribble is serving as South Main’s Community Outreach Director (plus keeping her job as Wedding Coordinator). This new role on the Communications Team will focus on relationship building with the surrounding community as well as with guests.

Our Creative Director, Suzann Herrmann, is in charge of social media, the website, photography, videography, and conceptual design. She is constantly encouraging us to try new ideas.

The purpose of this magazine is to tell the stories of South Main Baptist Church. Church members share their journeys, how our church has been home to them, what ministries and missions have been most meaningful, and how worshiping, discovering, and sharing alongside this family of faith helps them grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Our staff members also contribute to this communication piece

regularly, helping guide our flock spiritually.

Eric Peterson is our Graphic Designer. For 23 years, Eric has designed worship guides, newsletters, emails, tower banners and billboards, and numerous projects for each SMBC ministry.

I am incredibly blessed to lead this team. Our church family plus the larger Kingdom of God is the better for their work and talent.

Enjoy this spring issue of the Fount!

Susan Moore Executive Minister

ESAU MCCAULLEY AT SOUTH MAIN

BY STEVE WELLS PASTOR

Saturday evening we had multiple pastors and ministers from fellow churches including Ralph West, Pastor of The Church Without Walls, Marcus Cosby from Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, and Harvey Clemons from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Kim Ogg, Harris County District Attorney, also attended in order to learn and listen.

During Sunday’s Bible study, Dr. McCaulley reminded us that addressing historical racial injustices is an ongoing act of learning and discipleship. Just like we should continue to grow in our faith, so to in our understanding and approach to racial injustice. We never arrive in this endeavor. We do not attend one seminar or group discussion on race and justice and suddenly find that we have nothing else to learn as Christ followers.

South Main was delighted to host the Reverend Esau McCaulley, PhD, January 21–22, 2023. Dr. McCaulley discussed what the Bible says about policing and how the church can read scripture closely and help answer this question in public discourse.

Dr. McCaulley is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and Theologian in Residence at Progressive Baptist Church, a historically black congregation in Chicago. Dr. McCaulley is also a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times

His second book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope was published in 2020.

During Dr. McCaulley’s teaching at South Main he shared his belief that reading the Bible through the lens of the Black experience provides unique insights and perspectives that can enrich the faith of all Christians.

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Dr. McCaulley expanded our understanding of justice and systemic injustice by placing God at the center of Christian justice. He used Scripture to demonstrate God’s mercy and justness in juxtaposition to the corruption of that by human hands. Dr. Angela Bell, Professor of History at Lone Star College–CyFair and member of the Discipleship Committee reflected on the weekend: “The good news is that Dr. McCaulley made it clear that following God’s vision can help us get closer to Christian justice than we’ve ever come before. He ended with solid advice through the Q&A period that was both uplifting and encouraging. By grounding his words firmly in the Bible, Dr. McCaulley illuminated a path for us to follow here at South Main Baptist Church.”

UPDATE ON THE SMBC CAMPUS MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE

BY CLINT PASCHE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE CHAIR

On December 3, 2022, during a called Business Meeting, South Main approved a resolution to move forward with creating a campus master plan with planning costs not to exceed $2.1 million, which may be obtained via loans. The motion also stated that the Campus Master Plan Task Force will use these five tenets as the basis of such plan:

1) Be the best stewards of the campus entrusted to us

2) Develop our campus to generate income for future campus improvements and Kingdom work

3) Increase our effectiveness and our visibility to the community

4) Embody the gospel in the context of our time and place

5) Remain focused on our strategic need of numerical growth in an organic way

ver the past year, the Campus Master Plan Task Force has worked on behalf of the church, responding to the rapid growth and development of Houston’s tech ecosystem in and around our neighborhood. We are located across the street from an innovation boom that has increased our land value, brought in many new businesses, and will bring future residents to the immediate area. In response to this, South Main has decided to invest in planning to ensure that we remain relevant and inviting to the changing Midtown Houston. Through this work we have learned more about the master planning process and how that would create a roadmap for how we can be the best stewards of the campus God has entrusted to us.

Theapproved motion also stated the church will hire HR&A Advisors as South Main’s client-side advisor and representative to help prepare for and shepherd us through the campus master planning process. Lastly, the motion authorized the church to hire Transwestern Development Corporation to serve as master plan manager and develop the campus master plan document.

It is important to be proactive and intentional in responding to the changing needs of our community, especially as Midtown Houston is evolving so quickly. By investing in planning and making meaningful changes to its programs and facilities, South Main is positioned to be a vital and relevant part of the vibrant community that is growing around it. Thank you for your continued support for future generations of South Main members.

In response to conversation congregationaboutthema

In response to conversations with our church congregation about the master plan process, we have created a webpage with a wealth of resources including:

• Full text of the resolution that passed

• Charge of the Campus Master Plan Task Force

• Proposed budget

• Frequently Asked Questions list

• Video conversation with Task Force Chair and Pastor

All of these are available at the QR code above.

A RESURGENCE IN MIDTOWN HOUSTON

BY JENNIFER GRIBBLE COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR

For so many decades South Main Baptist Church has been a beautiful, welcoming island in Midtown Houston. Our church has been an important center of worship and community life in the neighborhood for over a century and is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and stunning architecture. As Midtown grows into the next chapter, it is important that we take time to learn a little about Midtown’s history as well.

Midtown was a fashionable residential district before World War I. However, encroaching commercial development and heavy traffic sent high-income homeowners in search of quieter neighborhoods. In the mid-20th century, the neighborhood began to decline, as the construction of highways and the growth of the suburbs pulled residents and businesses away from Midtown Houston.

The Midtown Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) was established in 1995 by the City of Houston as a tool for financing public infrastructure improvements and encouraging economic development in the Midtown area. TIRZ operates by using the increase in property tax revenues generated

midtown HOUSTON

by new development within the zone to fund public improvements and incentives for private development. Since its establishment, the Midtown Houston TIRZ has played a significant role in revitalizing the area and promoting growth and investment. Spurred by the Midtown TIRZ, luxury apartment/townhome construction continues to happen throughout the neighborhood. The Midtown Houston TIRZ aims to eliminate urban blight with revitalization, providing public right-of-way improvements and enhancements such as street resurfacing, utilities, street lighting, street art, street furniture, enhanced landscaping, irrigation, and decorative and wider sidewalks.

Midtown Houston is a neighborhood with a rich history and a bright future. From its origins as a hub of social and cultural activity, to its decline in the mid-20th century, to its recent resurgence, this neighborhood has been shaped by the people and events that have passed through Houston over the years. Today, with its vibrant community, diverse offerings, and commitment to the future, Midtown Houston is a place that truly embodies the spirit of Houston.

REQUIEM FOR THE LIVING

BY ADAM COGLIANO, MINISTER FOR MUSIC & WORSHIP

including the well-known settings of Mozart, Verdi, Fauré, Duruflé, Brahms, and others. Dan Forrest, however, has chosen to write a Requiem for the Living, flipping the liturgical genre on its head. Through the use of biblical texts not standard to the Requiem (Ecclesiastes and Job), and by reordering a few of the Requiem movements, Forrest has turned a service of rest for the deceased into a service of rest for the weary. As the music wrestles through the arduousness of everyday living, the music also reminds us that, in Christ, there is rest for all who are heavy-laden, and in Christ, all of God’s promises are “Yes.”

Throughout this year’s Lenten season, we explored the promises of God in the Old Testament—promises made in the midst of uncertainty, doubt, pain, and restlessness, and promises that are fulfilled in the Resurrection. On Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, the Sanctuary Choir, soloists, and orchestra spoke into the tension of pain and promise, restlessness and rest, with Requiem for the Living, by Dan Forrest in a masterful performance in our Sanctuary.

In Christian liturgical tradition, the Requiem is the Mass for the dead, containing texts that implore God to grant rest for the soul that has passed on. Throughout music history, several prominent composers have prioritized composing their own Requiem settings,

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(Matthew 11:28)

ANNUAL FAMILY MINISTRY MLK WEEKEND TRIPS

SOUTH MAIN YOUTH NEW YORK TRIP

A recap from brothers Jack Fowler, 8th grade, and Lee Fowler, 12th grade

The Youth group flew out early Saturday morning and hit the city running, or rather walking thousands and thousands of steps. They dropped their bags off in the bunk rooms of Metro Baptist Church where they would stay for the weekend and went off to explore the city. The first day the Youth group saw Central Park, Rockefeller Center where the Christmas tree was still up, and Top of the Rock observation deck, ate dinner in small groups, and walked through Times Square on the way back to the church.

In the spirit of David Letterman’s Top 10 lists, here are the Fowler boys’ Top 10 tips/funnies from the 2023 Youth trip to New York City.

10 Pro tip: If you leave your bag in the airport gate area and then walk out of the secured area, you can’t go back and get it. (Make sure you have friends that will grab it for you!)

9 New York is COLD in January. Even so, you can indeed run the radiator, air conditioning, and open the windows at the same time, yet never find the right sleeping temperature.

same time, yet n

8 Going to N Trains & Automo

Going to New York City is really like being in the Planes, Trains & Automobiles movie (with buses).

Day 2 started off with worship at Metro Baptist Church. It was a very different service than South Main, as they have a large online population that worships with them via Zoom with screens in their worship space. The Youth appreciated experiencing another way of worshiping. After lunch they went to the Statue of Liberty, the 911 Memorial, Wall Street, Trinity Church, eat some New York pizza, see Wicked on Broadway, and end the evening gathered together to talk about their highlights of the trip.

Lee noted that it was a great bonding experience for the group, especially for the seniors as they are wrapping up their time in the South Main Youth group.

at ver y ain, pulation oom pace. encing ter lunch erty, York pizza, end the talk about onding ecially pping

Riding on the subway will introduce you to all kinds of people, including a guy that preaches about our artificial moon, that the Bermuda Triangle is a portal, and other funny things.

7 Ridin of artificial m and other hom EVE and

6 Simone Biles was on our airplane coming home and graciously posed for a picture with us.

5 Someone in the youth group knew EVERY WORD to every song in Wicked and might have sung along.

4 Anot characters them mon

Another pro tip: Don’t take pictures with the characters in Times Square, unless you want to give them money.

Asking “Is that the Empire State Building?” about every tall building might drive your Youth Minister bananas. Or make her laugh. Or both.

2 One bad smell in the bunk room and the whole room is done for the night.

wh bun

YOUTH IN NEW YORK CITY

TRIBE AT KALAHARI

MAINKIDS AT GREAT WOLF LODGE

SOUTH MAIN BOOKCLUB

BY SARAH VILLASEÑOR

Lauren Gordy and I were excited when asked to lead a book club on Wednesday nights. Especially after three years of irregular attendance (for me personally), I was eager to find a way to jump back into a church routine!

But how does one go about hosting a church book club? How do you pick books?

Easy! Lauren and I wanted to make sure we hosted a weekly meeting with manageable reading “assignments.” Once the group votes/selects the next book (no genre restraints or book censoring here)

we split it up into about five to six sections to match with the number of weeks we are meeting.

This empowers readers, of any schedule, to jump in and out of our weekly meetings, read (or not read), and be ready to discuss. We have small nights with five attendees and nights where we have 10-15 people.

Our book club is a cross-section of folks who gather each week to share how we are connecting or not connecting with the reading. It’s refreshing to have an array of life experiences to discuss and connect with different perspectives.

We recently read A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Being immersed in a book written by an agnostic author about two young boys and their coming-of-age story that is centered around life in a small town, and is rife with religious symbols, has made for great discussion! We enjoy discussing destiny, fate, and how our lives are shaped by the people who surround us. who surround us.

Come one, come all and join us when you can!

CURIOUS ABOUT COMPOSTING?

BY DOLORES RADER MINISTER TO FAMILIES

It was during quarantine that I realized something about banana peels that I have never previously considered…I assumed that when I toss a banana peel into the trash, it goes to a landfill and because it is organic, it would decompose there in pretty much the same way as if I threw it in my backyard.

Not true and here is why:

I have packed my banana peel in a plastic garbage bag and that bag will be crushed by a bulldozer (to maximize the use of space) at the landfill. The basin of the landfill has been lined with plastic to avoid toxic runoff, so there is very little oxygen reaching my poor little banana peel. With only limited oxygen, my banana peel off-gasses methane (not good) and takes years to decompose.

single material in our everyday trash, constituting 24 percent of municipal solid waste. Almost one quarter of our landfill trash is organic material! One quarter of our trash is not only unnecessarily ending up in the landfill but causing significant environmental problems.

The great news is there is a pretty easy way to not only significantly reduce the amount of trash that is going to our landfills and actually significantly improve the earth that God has entrusted us to care for— composting!

Composting is proven to

• Improve soil health

• Reduce water usage

• Promote sustainability

• Encourage biodiversity

It was a very easy decision for my family to start composting. We started with a backyard version, but it turns out that wasn’t as easy as we were hoping it would be. So in August of 2020, we started using Happy Earth Composting that our friend Jan Barkley recommended. Last fall, South Main Baptist Church added composting to the Fellowship Hall.

all of it—bon xic runoff,

Make sure you are dishing all of your food (really, all of it—bones, meat, salad dressing, anything you did not eat) into the compost bin.

Consider this mind-boggling fact: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more food reaches landfills than any other

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Food waste is such a significant issue, and as co-stewards of the earth God has entrusted to us, Christians are called to do something - even a little something. Save your banana peels each week to compost on Sundays and Wednesdays or consider composting at your home.

HAPPY 103RD BIRTHDAY, PERK!

Later in the week, Perk’s youngest daughter, Dianne Johnson, husband Stan, and daughter AnneMarie Benage came to Houston. Also joining the fun was Barbara Lynn of Louisiana who is the youngest daughter of Perk's brother Bob. Many joyful memories and wonderful stories were shared.

Perk has lived through an immense amount of change and historic events. He was born in the aftermath of World War I and saw the rise and fall of the roaring 20s, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. He has witnessed significant advancements in technology, transportation, medicine, and communication. Perk has lived through it all and has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with future generations.

South Main member Dr. Albert Perkins (Perk) celebrated his 103rd birthday on January 10, 2023. Perk is the father-in-law of Thomas Coker, former Minister of Music at South Main Baptist Church. The Coker family has been members of South Main since 1986, and with Perk there are currently four generations of family members from ages 15 to 103 at South Main Baptist Church!

There were numerous family festivities to celebrate Perk’s milestone birthday. On Perk’s actual birthday he shared a meal with Thomas, his daughter, Brenda Coker, granddaughter, Catrice Mays, and great granddaughter, Caroline Mays. Perk’s birthday celebrations continued the next day with the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunch group.

MISSIONS

BY J HILL MINISTER FOR MISSIONS

I’m a little luckier. I’ve been at my job for three years now and just got promoted to supervisor. I make $12 per hour. It’s full time, and I get health insurance, but that only covers me. If I add our daughter and my spouse that would be over $700 per month. I feel bad about that, but for now we’ll just rely on public health care. Sometimes I also pick up extra work on weekends, but that’s very inconsistent and has to be scheduled around my spouse’s hours, which we know only a week in advance.

Let’s start with one basic fact: math is hard, y’all. I don’t mean algebra, trig, or calculus. I mean the kind of math a family does around the kitchen table each month.

Let’s pretend I’m part of a three-person family. Husband, wife, and a three-year-old child. We adopted our daughter recently when my younger sister passed away. We both work. My spouse has a new job and most weeks works about 30 hours, sometimes less, but it averages to about 100 hours per month. It’s a new job for her, so it is minimum wage and there is no seniority, which means not the best schedule and no extra hours. We feel blessed, though, because at least the boss of the new job is not abusive like the last one— but that’s a different story.

So, I work 120 hours per month at $12 per hour before taxes and occasionally earn money from side jobs. My spouse works 100 hours at minimum wage—$7.25 per hour before taxes—and also works extra jobs every now and then. We live in the least expensive place where we still feel safe. Rent is $1,050 per month, but there’s no lease so we never know when that might change. Right now we don’t have a car—the cost of buying one is out of reach, and I’m not sure we’d be able to afford gas and maintenance anyway. We rely on friends or public transit, which adds an extra hour each way to work. Our daughter is in childcare, and we can manage that only because we get some assistance. Still, the best option for us costs about $380.

We save our pennies, try to buy groceries at the bargain grocery stores (by the way, there’s not a grocery within three miles of our apartment). We get most of our clothes as family hand-me-downs or from thrift stores. All totaled, our kitchen table math looks a little like this:

Monthly Budget

My income: $1300 After taxes

Extra work: $350

My spouse’s income: $675 After taxes

Spouses extra work: $150

Our total take-home pay is about $2475 in a good month.

Our basic expenses are:

Rent: $1050 per month

Food: $325

Transportation: $150

Utilities: $350

Childcare: $380

Misc. expenses: $250

Average monthly expenses: $2505

We can cut some things for sure. I’m going to get some extra work and hopefully my spouse will start to get more hours. When our daughter reaches school age at least we won’t have childcare. On the other hand, there’ll be school supplies and such.

See what I mean. Math is hard, y’all. This family is lucky in a few senses. Recent statistics show that at best in Houston, there are five units of affordable housing for every ten low-income families. 2022 saw rent increase from between 15-22% and many low-income units are month-to-month rentals, which means you don’t actually know what next month’s rent will be—or if your landlord wants to rent to you at all. The current poverty rate in Harris County is about 17%— in real terms that means we all know or work with someone in these circumstances. Furthermore, recent studies show that, for a range of reasons, the cognitive development of a child in poverty may be about 60% of those who are not (again that is another story for another day).

This is why South Main Baptist Church’s mission partners like Emergency Aid Coalition are so critical. The EAC focuses most of its energy on aid for the working poor. Their services include counseling and a clothes pantry. The nonperishable food South Main collects monthly goes into a grocery distribution program to help supplement families like the one described. Recently, the EAC began a partnership with Second Serving, which channels overstocked groceries from grocery chains and restaurants to folks who need it.

The work of organizations like The EAC help families maintain life in hard times. It lifts some of the worry and burden. Simply put, it is a real necessity.

More simply put, it is Kingdom-building work.