40 YEARS OF IMPACT

struggle because we are in a strange season, but it’s no stranger than it was 40 years ago when we made our presence known.”

Members of the African American Fellowship of Texas (AAFT), along with Texas Baptists staff and churches, gathered together for a time of worship to celebrate 40 years of impact through Texas Baptists African American Ministries.

Dr. Joe Ratcliff, the first president of AAFT, reflected on 40 years of ministry to African Americans in Texas and shared a word of encouragement: “Don’t ever lose your identity. This Convention needs you … I’m proud, so proud, that you must continue the

In 2022, African American Ministries brought 47 new churches into the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), including 12 churches from out of state — bringing the total number of African American churches partnered with the ministry to over 1,000.

Dr. Edward Wagner, the 15th and current president of AAFT taught from Psalm 42:1-11 about thirsting for God in times of trouble. He shared that if believers are to be salt to the world, they should be thirsty for the Lord and also create thirst in others. He reminded attendees that the answer to spiritual thirst is the Holy Spirit.

“When a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, God can bring down strongholds in his heart; when a church is filled with the Holy Spirit, God can turn the world upside down,” Wagner said. The evening closed with a prayer over Texas Baptists staff by Pastor George Effiom of United Christian Fellowship of Arlington.

“We ask that You will encourage them, that You will be a source of strength for them,” Effiom prayed. “Father, join their hearts together, that they may work in unity to glorify Your name … May greater and greater things come for us as a fellowship, in the ministry and in our respective churches, until You have all the glory, all the honor and all the praise."