Mission 1:8

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7401 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024

Facebook.com/HoustonsFirst

@HoustonsFirst

MIS

SIO

N 1:8

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Through the centurie

s, as r

ecorded in th

e Bible, He is

consistently

about the

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busin

ess

of re

achi

ng dow

n to

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humanity to m

ake Himself know

n. In the Old Testament, He used a

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burning bush, a pillar of fire, a quiet whispering voice on a breeze, and the hoarse voices of His

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prophets to lead His children. In the New Testament, we see His prophesied pinnacle of His revelation in the

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form

of J

esus

, His S

on.

YOUARE

HEREHEREIN THIS MOMENT, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

WHEN GOD SPEAKS,HIS PEOPLE RESPOND.

Through the centuries, as recorded in

the Bible, God is consistently about the

business of reaching down to humanity

to make Himself known. In the Old

Testament, He used a burning bush, a

pillar of fire, a quiet whispering voice

on a breeze, and the hoarse voices of

His prophets to lead His children. In the

New Testament, we see His prophesied

pinnacle of His revelation in the form

of Jesus, His Son. We see His coming

foreshadowed in dreams and angelic

visions; we witness His miraculous birth

and the majestic meeting of God’s spirit

with human flesh. We are witnesses to

Jesus Christ as a young man, a miracle

worker, an incomparable teacher, the

convict of Rome, the martyr, the Savior,

the King.

In the birth of Jesus, we see God’s

ultimate reach toward humanity. In the

gift of the Holy Spirit, we see God’s

continued hand of grace, empowering

believers to do things they never

dreamed they could do before. What

the apostles and early believers

observed in their day and in their time

was nothing short of astounding. They

saw with their own eyes the words of

the familiar scrolls literally come to life.

As they absorbed the words of Christ

with their own ears and hearts, they

knew they would never be the same.

The news of the Gospel would change

everything. They knew they had to

follow; they knew they had to respond.

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the stake couldn’t quench their taste.

The roar of the lion in the martyrs’

ring could not defeat the roar of the

witness as it burst across the known

world. Jesus was on the march.

Eventually the very nation that put

Him to death would declare their

allegiance to His church. In the name

of Christ, men throughout the middle

ages would fight and die to protect

the lands where the story was birthed.

The good news would transcend its

native tongue of Hebrew, Aramaic,

and Greek. It would eventually be

smuggled into Britain, where it had

been banned, in the form of small,

palm-sized copies in plain English.

Martin Luther, the reformer, would

pen his open letter of protest to the

church in the German tongue. He and

his contemporaries would be among those who would shake the world yet

again during the Reformation. Their battle cry, which was to cut through

sedimentary layers of church tradition, was a return to the scriptures in its

purest form and served to amplify the work of Christ through the cross.

RESPOND, THEY DID. After Christ’s resurrection, the disciples

began to understand His (sometimes

mysterious) teachings in sharp relief. As

He reappeared to the masses of people,

recognizable but resplendent, the people

began to understand, too. When they saw

the sky literally rip apart and take Him up

in front of them, the deal was sealed. They

knew they would follow this man even to

their deaths if need be. They would give

their lives to see the Gospel advanced.

How could they keep this message to

themselves? This Gospel, or good news,

was, from then on, uncontainable.

This same Gospel traveled the centuries.

From the seeds planted by the early

apostles, the good news spread. It united

a people in a literal eternal community

that was so sweet that even the fires of

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One hundred years or so later, the

Gospel arrived here on American

shores with the coming of the early

explorers through the religious

refugees at Plymouth. One hundred

years after that, Jonathan Edwards

and George Whitfield’s time had

come. Through their new style of

preaching, the American continent

was awakened to the idea that

our belief in Christ was intensely

personal and demanded a new

call to action regarding social

justice and equality. It was the soil

in which the American Revolution

would grow and a nation would be

formed that guaranteed religious

liberty. Forty years later, in 1814,

a song would be written with the

phrase “in God is our trust” in its

fourth stanza. That song was called

the The Star-Spangled Banner. That simple phrase birthed an

idea that would eventually guide

Congress to adopt “In God we

trust” as our national motto in 1956. It is plain to the

outside observer that Christ and His Gospel were

woven through the founding fabric and subsequent

history of our country. His truth was marching on!

The Gospel message made its way to Houston in the late

1830s through the ministry of a Tennessee volunteer.

Z.N. Morrell and his son rode down to Houston (or

Harrisburg at the time) from their settlement in

east Texas to pick up supplies. Their

buckboard wagon ferried Buffalo Bayou

at the precise location where University

of Houston Downtown is located today

and only about 200 yards from Vine

Street Lofts which houses the office

and ministry center of our Downtown

Campus.

Once across the bayou, Morrell found

Houston to be a tent city with one

permanent structure. Although supplies

were of primary importance, Morrell

had a higher purpose in mind for his

visit. After inquiring about a church to

visit and finding that there was none, he

quickly set about the business of finding

a spot from which to preach. The first evangelistic sermon and the roots of Houston’s First Baptist Church can be traced to that moment. A small band of

hearers later united to form our church—

your church —in 1841 before Texas was

even a part of the United States.

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Our church founders believed from the

beginning that our fellowship would be

defined as a Gospel-sharing organism.

In the church’s first official minutes,

recorded on April 10, 1841, it was noted

that people had convened “for the

purpose of forming an evangelistic

church of Christ of the regular Baptist

order.” What is the first adjective used

to describe who we are? Evangelistic.

This mission was handed down to a

generation who would see the new

city of Houston grow during the

Reconstruction period in the old South.

It was given to another who would

see the advent of electricity and the

light bulb. It was also entrusted to a

generation who watched our city grow

into the petroleum capital of the world

from a little well called Spindeltop.

During the span of those historic

decades, Houston’s First Baptist Church

was a light to our city.

Now, in recent history, even in the lifetime

of many of our most beloved members,

Houston’s First Baptist Church became

a light not only to our city but also to

the world. During the last half of the

20th century, God gave our church

a gift. That gift was the blessing of

healthy growth. Under the leadership of

then Pastor John Bisagno, our church

did the unthinkable—it moved! The

13 acres at the Loop Campus grew in

size and influence. The place expanded

so rapidly that a new term was used

to describe it. They called it a “mega-

church.”

From the location at the Loop, Houston’s

First Baptist Church touched the nation

with its teaching and ministry methods.

It became a leading church within the

Southern Baptist denomination as it

touched the world. It also became a

pioneer in rescuing and revitalizing dying

churches in the city. At every bend in

the road, our church—your church—was

guided by the simple thought of seeing

the Gospel, His Kingdom message, go

forward.

After the retirement of Dr. Bisagno, or

“Bro. John” as he is lovingly known,

the church headed out into blue water

it had never mapped. The notion of

transitioning to the leadership of a new

Pastor was quite a new thought as it had

not been done for thirty years. And for

nearly five years, Houston’s First Baptist

Church, yet again, did the unthinkable—

it waited.

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It waited and flourished. During those years of searching for a Pastor,

our church family was faithfully led by Dr. David

Self and a staff committed to seeking and

following God’s will. Conventional wisdom said

we would see a decline without a permanent

shepherd for guidance. However, conventional

wisdom often underestimates God’s people.

Membership, attendance, giving, and mission

trips all increased as our members kept their

hearts’ attention not on what we were missing

but on what we had in Him.

That was what Gregg Matte reminded us on

Easter Sunday 2004. He was speaking in view

of a call to be our Pastor, the candidate put

forth by the Pastor Search Committee. Before

a packed and expectant Worship Center he

pointed out, “Why worry about an empty pulpit

when we have an empty tomb?” Capturing

our church’s long-held passion for the Gospel

message, he was overwhelmingly approved by

our members and became Pastor Gregg Matte.

Over the brief span of eight years, the

Lord has continued to bless Houston’s

First under its current Pastor. In

the last eight years our church has

continued to grow. Yes, we have

grown in the areas of things that are

easily measured: faces, financials and

facilities. It’s a blessing to measure

each one. But, it is because of that

growth and the hand of blessing He

has gracefully laid on Houston’s First

that the church--your church--has

been given innumerable opportunities

to keep extending the Gospel. Think

of the way Jesus continues to change

lives. Think of the way He is bringing

people to life all around you. Look at the ways our church––your church––has been a vehicle to meet people’s needs in dark places

here in Houston and around the world.

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Jesus is on the move.Now the question comes to us. It

comes to you. When you hear His

voice, how will you respond? We

believe that God is calling Houston’s

First to a new opportunity based

on the original vision of the church.

We believe God is calling us to be

a part of the work that takes the

Gospel to our city, our nation, and our world. Acts 1:8 is our blueprint

and the Holy Spirit is our power to

go to the orphan, the widow, the

poor, the slave, the free, the insiders,

the outsider, the wanderer, the self-

absorbed, the intellectual, the free-

thinker, the fearful, the bigot the

lonely, the doubter, the family, the

father, the mother, the single, the

student, the grandparent, the hero,

the blind, the distracted—the lost—and call them back to life!

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YOU ARE

HERE. HE IS HERE. LET’S MOVE.

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• Bangladesh• Cambodia• China• Comoros• Costa Rica• Cuba• France• Germany• Guatemala• Hong Kong• India• Israel• Italy

• Jamaica• Japan• Kazakhstan• Kenya• Malaysia• Mexico• Nigeria• Pakistan• Philippines• Poland• Puerto Rico• Russia• Saudi Arabia

• Singapore• South Korea• Spain• Syria• Taiwan• United Kingdom• United States• Venezuela• Vietnam

6 Local colleges and universities WITH STUDENTS FROM OUR COLLEGE MINISTRY

20 Out-of-town colleges and universities WITH STUDENTS FROM OUR COLLEGE MINISTRY

350+ Young singles attend midweek Men’s and Women’s Small Groups

184PEOPLE attended the Single Parent Family Camp

Countries represented

by people attending

the Downtown Campus

41%of visitors to Houston’s First are young single adults

What we are doing NOW

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375 Men participating in small groups

“ The Newlywed or Close Life Bible Study opened my eyes as a husband. I was lacking as a spiritual leader. Seeing other husbands leading their homes in a Godly way gave me the confidence and courage I needed. Soon, I came to know Jesus as my Savior because of the devoted men and couples investing in my life and marriage.”

– Will Saunders

Weekly Sunday webcast viewers (average)

750

from Houston’s First

from otherchurchaffiliation

from nochurchaffiliation

44% 29% 27%

Fitness & Recreation Center membership

Married and engaged adults ministered to by Newlywed or Close Life Bible Studies each year

Cups of coffee brewed by Corner Books in 2012

People were baptized at Houston’s First in 2012949 people joined Houston’s First in 2012488 people attended Make It Your Church orientations in 2012

6 Local colleges and universities WITH STUDENTS FROM OUR COLLEGE MINISTRY

20 Out-of-town colleges and universities WITH STUDENTS FROM OUR COLLEGE MINISTRY

9,112 Items checked out from Corner Books library in 2012

41,600

4 3 8

500 Women attending weekday Bible studies

187

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33 mission trips sent by Houston’s First in 2012

2,284 individuals went on mission trips from Houston’s First in 2012

650 acts of service for 25 widows with 160 men through Men: Serve (painting, mowing, repairs, etc.)

110 people accepted Christ through Benevolence ministry in 2012

120 Choir & Orchestra members on Philippines mission trip (July 2012)

463 salvations among Choir & Orchestra audiences (July 2012)

288 Heart 2 Heart volunteers in Preschool & Kindergarten Ministry at The Loop

Meals prepared by Culinary Services for Houston Project 2012

20,845

200+ inmates led by Singers in worship at a women’s prison (Spring 2012)

The Clothes Closet serves 4,820 families (or 11,725 individuals) each year

The Food Pantry serves 5,050 families (or 14,200 individuals) each year

150 families assisted financially each month through the Benevolence ministry in 2012

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400 weekly attendance at English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Faith Center30+ ESL students accepted Christ in 2012

5,122 hours spent by

35 Stephen Ministers caring for

50 care receivers

3 Hope Houses hosted 7 families for an average of 8 weeks each stay

Families came from Dallas, Amarillo, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Poland and United Arab Emirates

Miles driven by Pastoral Care staff and volunteers in 2012 to visit the 140+ hospitals, surgical centers, hospice facilities, and assisted living centers in the greater Houston area

visits at the Julianna Poor Memorial Counseling Center in 2012 48% were members of Houston’s First52% were non-members of Houston’s First

10,204

375 women mentor other women on their own – without a formal mentoring program

Students enrolled in School of Fine Arts for Spring 201355% are members of Houston’s First45% are non members of Houston’s First

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33 families on First Kids Children’s Ministry’s Family Mission Trip to Galveston (July 2012)

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90Middle Schools represented in

HUB Student Ministry

71High Schoolsreperesented inHUB StudentMinistry

1,231Kids enrolled in Vacation Bible School in 2012

228Average number of PK4-5th graders at High 5 Kids’ Choir each Wednesday

“I am so thankful for the Thru the Roof special needs minis-try. My son, no matter his multiple impairments, has a soul that wants to worship.” – Julie Beeson, mother of Beau

People accepted Christ through the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet in 2012

684

Senior Adults at the Senior Adult Revival

JANUARY 2012 DECEMBER 2012

Growth of

51%

Growth of

32%

Houston’s First’s social media community growth

Growth of

51%

Growth of

32%

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After reading the previous pages, it would be tempting

for us to coast as a church, being content with how

things are going. In fact, we could make this page the

last page in the book.

Our membership is growing, our ministries are thriving,

and our impact is increasing. let’s close the book and

be satisfied with where we are — not in a prideful way,

but with gratitude for all the ways God has given us to

serve Him and declare His Gospel.

However, that is not who we are because that is not who

God is. Our ministry as a church is a response to Him —

a worshipful expression of our love and gratitude. Since

“His mercies never end” and are “new every morning”

(lamentations 3:22–23), each day provides us with

more reasons to praise His name and share His story.

So, rather than closing the book, we will write more pages.

We’ll tell stories about finding community in Houston,

redemption on the streets of San Francisco, and

hope in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. We’ll hear how

God saved a girl from slavery in India, provided for a

pastor’s widow, and brought a child into his “forever

family.” And, we’ll continue to share how God moved

right here in our midst at Houston’s First. Each story

will be unique, but each will reflect God’s love and

your generosity.

MISSION 1:8 has another purpose, as well—discipleship.

To achieve the goals of MISSION 1:8, we must increase

our annual budget.

God has given us an incredible amount of resources at

Houston’s First baptist Church. We use these resources

to make an impact and spread the Gospel of

Jesus Christ throughout all the ministries

of our church. With the added vision of

MISSION 1:8, we will also need additional

resources to fund the vision. When

churches and ministries discuss money,

it often brings a negative connotation

in our hearts. but truthfully, it is our joy

to give. Giving is not a burden but a blessing.

The greater extent we give, the greater blessing we

will have. I’m so excited about the giving aspect of

MISSION 1:8 because it has a place for everyone to be

included.

We do not want this privilege to be in the hands

of only a few, but instead we are expecting 100%

participation. Each of us playing a role, each of us

receiving the blessing, each of us impacting the world,

and each of us giving to the budget of our church.

This initiative is different than ones that we have

engaged in the past. Instead of two separate funds

from which to do ministry, the operating budget and

a capital campaign, we will just have one fund. We are

all simply giving to the budget of our church, so this

isn’t a capital campaign. MISSION 1:8 is a Generosity

Initiative. We are giving to fund the ministries that we

are already supporting and to fulfill the potential of

what we can accomplish. As our generosity grows, we

will then be able to engage in the additional ministries

and opportunities of MISSION 1:8. Throughout this

book, you will see the vision and dream of what we

can do if we sacrifice together by increasing our

generosity in giving.

The power of collective sacrifice has two wonderful

components. First, it makes an impact in our heart. See,

discipleship and stewardship are intertwined. As we

grow in our discipleship we grow in our stewardship,

and as we grow in our stewardship we will grow in our

discipleship. The two concepts work hand-in-hand to

mold our hearts more into the image of Jesus.

Secondly, as we increase our stewardship we are able to

accomplish more together as a church. The impact in our lives

of honoring and following God with our stewardship

results in an impact in others’ lives. In God’s

economy, our heightened generosity can change

the life of the widow and orphan and even a city.

It is amazing what He can do when we yield our

fish and loaves to the Master’s hand.

A MESSAGE FROM

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The best way to think of it is in the form of the ladder.

If we each take a step to the next rung, we will be able

to accomplish MISSION 1:8 and more. What the lord

is asking us to do as individuals is to take the next step

on that ladder. Will you pray about that? Will you have

the courage and faith to ask God to take you to the

next step?

There’s a place for everyone in MISSION 1:8. Someone

will give for the very first time, and someone who

has given for decades will take another step in their

discipleship, too. It will be so exciting to see the

changes that happen in our lives and others. I know

we will hear incredible stories of what God has done

when we all take a step of greater discipleship.

We all share the same heart. We all want to grow with

our generosity and grow in our impact. MISSION 1:8 is

the opportunity to accomplish both. Will you join me

on the journey?

PASTOR GREGG

Pastor Gregg Matte

@GreggMatte

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The Poor, Widows, Orphans, & Prisoners$1,500,000

GenerationOne.netCommitted to the spiritual growth and physical rebuilding

of the impoverished areas of the Third Ward

SOHMission.orgDedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men,

women, and children

CharmPrisonMinistry.orgReconciliation and hope for the prisoner

AsOurOwn.orgRescue, aftercare, and prevention for vulnerable children in India

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Houston’s First will give away 10% of the increase in our budget to ministries dedicated to helping the poor, widows, orphans, and prisoners.

And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

MATTHEW 25:40

“ Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows

in their distress and to keep oneself unstained

by the world.”

JAMES 1:27

“

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WorkFaithConnection.orgHelping clients (60% prisoners) maintain productive lives by

leading them towards long-term employment

MissionDignitySBC.orgAssisting widows, many of them former pastor’s wives

from smaller churches.

HoustonsFirst.org/MenServeOur men serving widows from our church and in our city

HoustonsFirst.org/GLAExpoPlanting churches by making disciples in global cities carrying the

name of Jesus to nearly 3 billion unreached people of the world

doing justice in dark places.

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For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me;

I was in prison and you visited Me.”

MATTHEW 25:35–36

“

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Our CITY$9,000,000Our CITY$9,000,000

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CYPRESS CAMPUS$1,150,000MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$1,100,000 for Ministry Center•Build-outandleaseofofficesandweekdayministrycenter

$50,000 for marketing•MarketingtotargetedZIPcodesJason Swiggart

Campus Pastor

SIENNA CAMPUS$375,000MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$250,000 for Ministry Center

•Build-outandrefreshadditionalleasespacegiventoHouston’sFirstby

Grace Church

$15,000 for marketing

•MarketingtotargetedZIPcodes

$110,000 for additional personnel

Jeff Rees

Campus Pastor

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DOWNTOWN CAMPUS$25,000MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$25,000 for Marketing

•$15,000formarketingduringDowntownspecialevents

(e.g. Chevron Houston Marathon)

•$10,000formarketingtotargetedZIPcodesLee Hsia

Campus Pastor

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES$7,450,000MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$7,450,000toestablishafundtosupport

current and future multisite churches of

Houston’s First in neighborhoods

across our city. Our prayer is that we

would have the need for property

and buildings as we continue to

reach Houston’s communities.

SIENNA CAMPUS$375,000MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$250,000 for Ministry Center

•Build-outandrefreshadditionalleasespacegiventoHouston’sFirstby

Grace Church

$15,000 for marketing

•MarketingtotargetedZIPcodes

$110,000 for additional personnel

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FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES$7,450,000

will provide:

$7,450,000toestablishafundtosupport

current and future multisite churches of

Houston’s First in neighborhoods

across our city. Our prayer is that we

would have the need for property

and buildings as we continue to

reach Houston’s communities.

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Our NATION$2,250,000

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Our NATION$2,250,000

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NEW ENGLAND$526,000BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS•BostonisNewEngland’slargestcity

•2%ofBostonresidentsattendevangelicalchurches

•Hometoover100universities

•Rankedasthemostgloballyinnovativecityintheworld

MISSION 1:8 will provide:

$350,000 for Redeemer Fellowship Church, a church plant

supported in part by the North American Mission Board

•$250,000towarddownpaymentonfacilitythatstillowes$1,100,000

•$25,000fornewscreensandprojectorforsanctuary

•$75,000torenovatekitchen(providingthemwithincomethroughrentalsandweddings)

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND•Providenceranksinthetop3citieswithlowestpercentageofevangelicals

•IMBclassifiesan“unreachedpeoplegroup”ashavinglessthan2%Christians

•Providenceis1.9%Christian


$176,000 for Christ The King Church, a church plant supported

in part by the North American Mission Board

•$80,000forpersonnel/salaries

•$35,000forspacerental/equipment

•$25,000forpromotions/communications

•$36,000forsecondstaffmember

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New England

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NEW YORK CITY$665,000•22millionpeople

•Consideredthemostinfluentialcityintheworld

•Only6%evangelicalChristian

•38%ofpopulationun-churched

•1SouthernBaptistChurchforevery60,000people

•20,000churchesmustbeplantedinNYCtoreachthe“church-per-person”ratioofa

southern state


$165,000 for The Journey Church’s Staten Island church plant (JourneyMetro.com)


•$30,000forcommunityoutreach




$500,000 for the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association, supported in part by the

North American Mission Board

•$180,000for10churchplants($18,000each)

•$54,000for3churchplantingapprentices($18,000each)

•$100,000for2EthnicChurchPlantingMultiplicationCenters($50,000each)

•$50,000forchurchplantingresources(mentoring,retreats,workshops,etc.)

•$24,000foraChurchPlantingAdministrator($12,000for2years)

•$92,000foraChurchPlantingMultiplicationandMinistryCenterforUnreachedPeopleGroups–

Jackson Heights

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New York City, New York

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SAN FRANCISCO$250,000•OneofthemostsecularcitiesinAmerica

•Metroareaof5millionpeople

MISSION 1:8 will provide $250,000 for a church plant in partnership with

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.





MISSION 1:8 FUNDING FOR OUR NATIONNewEngland $526,000

NewYorkCity $665,000

SanFrancisco $250,000

Designatedfunds $1,441,000

Undesignated* $809,000

Total MISSION 1:8 Funding $2,250,000

* Funds currently undesignated will be used as God leads us to support other projects or ministries

in our nation

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San Francisco, California

3838

Our WORLD$2,250,000

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EAST ASIA$440,000SHANGHAI•23millionpeople–China’slargestcity

•Highestqualityofeducationintheworld

•.005%ofpopulation(or115,000)identifythemselvesasChristian

BEIJING•22millionpeople–China’spoliticalcapital

•3,000yearsofhistory

•Hubofinfluence

CHENGDU (J-PEOPLE)•BasecityofJ-People,unreachedpeoplegroupadoptedbyHouston’sFirst

•Populationof334,000withonly20–30knownChristians—orlessthan.0001%ofJ-People

•TendtobeeitherTibetanBuddhistsorfollowersofBon

•Completelyorallanguagein4differentdialects

•Notofficiallyrecognizedbygovernmentasaminoritygroupsoresourcesforeducation,

job opportunities, and general welfare are few


$110,000 for a church plant in Chengdu for the J-People

•$50,000forBibletranslationstaffandlanguagedevelopment

•$35,000forMarsHillproductionofTheHopeintheirlanguage

•$25,000forhostingmissionteams

$125,000 for Eagles Nest

•$100,000forhousechurchleadershiptraining

•$25,000forhostingtravel

$125,000 for microbusiness support for church planters

$80,000 to reach the TN people group of China

•$45,000forBibletranslation

•$35,000forchurchplanting

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Shanghai, China

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MADRID, SPAIN$340,000•6.2millionpeople

•20%ofpopulationisforeignborn

•HighimmigrantinfluxfromMiddleEast(“ArabSpring”of2012)

•70.1%claimtobeCatholicbutfewattendservices

•25%ofpopulationhasnoreligion

•25%unemploymentrate


$225,000 for church planting in Madrid

•$100,000forspacerental/utilities

•$55,000forsalaries/insurance

•$25,000forpromotions/communications/media

•$25,000fortravelandhostingmissionteams

•$20,000fortracts/trainingmaterials/Bibles

$115,000 for Xativa, the mother church

•$90,000forspaceutilization/upgrade

•$25,000fortravelandhostingmissionteams

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Madrid, Spain

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL$650,000•6.1millionpeople

•MostvisitedcityintheSouthernHemisphere

•2ndmostirreligiouscityinBrazil

•20%ofRioresidentsliveinfavelas(slums)

•Hostcityof2014WorldCupand2016SummerOlympics


$650,000 for a church plant in Ipanema, a neighborhood in the southern region of Rio




•$50,000forpromotion/communications

•$50,000forhostingmissionteams

•$50,000formotherchurchplantsupport

MISSION 1:8 FUNDING FOR OUR WORLDEastAsia $440,000

Madrid $340,000

RiodeJaneiro $650,000

Designatedfunds $1,430,000

Undesignated* $820,000

Total MISSION 1:8 Funding $2,250,000

* Funds currently undesignated will be used as God leads us to support other projects or ministries around the world

44

45

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

46

1. PRAY

The Holy Spirit fuels the Acts 1:8 vision. It’s that

simple. It starts and stops with Him. We can’t do

it outside His power and His control. So, it fol-

lows that the first step of response to Him is to

embrace the power that comes through prayer.

Over the next 24 months, it is our desire that we,

the church, continue to rally in prayer for the poor,

widows, orphans, prisoners, cities, the nation, and

the world.

The MISSION 1:8 Challenge Coin is a tool we’ve

created to help you remember to lift up our target

groups and cities. Be challenged every time you

feel it in your pocke or see it at home, work, or in

the car to pause and pray. Let it become some-

thing you keep on you at all times. Let it symbol-

ize your commitment to pray, go and give to see

the Gospel go out! To pick up your own Challenge

Coin, please visit the designated MISSION 1:8 area

at your campus.

How will YOU respond?

48

Another key facet of MISSION 1:8 is seeing His Word spread in first person. Whether you

are going to Rio, Cypress, the Faith Center, or stepping up in leadership at the Loop Cam-

pus, you are going! You are carrying the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. GO


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3. GIVE


Discipleship and stewardship are intertwined. As we go deeper in our relationship with the

Father, we learn what it means to value Him above all else. He is the Giver of Life, He is our

Provision. As we learn to give, we learn to risk. As we risk, we trust. As we trust Him, we

know Him more.

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Through MISSION 1:8, we will support

the current ongoing ministry of our

church while multiplying our missional

endeavors to the poor, widows, orphans,

and prisoners and to our city, our nation,

and our world.

During MISSION 1:8, funding for

missional endeavors will increase from

22% to 41% of the church’s budget—and

that does not include your contributions

to special giving opportunities, such

as the World Mission Offering, local

missions, and mission trips.

I give beyond my tithe to Houston’s First.

I faithfully give 10% of my income to Houston’s First.

I give consistently to Houston’s First but less than 10% of my income.

I give to Houston’s First but not consistently.

I have not given to Houston’s First.

I give beyond my tithe

I faithfully give 10% of my income to Houston’s First.

I give consistently to Houston’s First but less than 10% of my income.

Source: Maximize: How to Develop Extravagant Givers in Your Church by Nelson Searcy, p. 204, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI (2010)

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OUR WORLD$2.25MMEast AsiaMadridRio de Janeiro

OUR NATION$2.25MMNew EnglandNew York CitySan Francisco

OUR CITY$9MMAdditional funding for Cypress and Sienna campuses and other multisite locations

THE POOR, WIDOWS, ORPHANS, & PRISONERS $1.5MMStar of HopeMission DignityAs Our OwnC.H.A.R.M.The WorkFaith ConnectionGeneration One

Visit HoustonsFirst.org/Mission18 for details about each of these ministry areas.

The Projected and MISSION 1:8 Operating Budgets do not include contributions to special giving opportunities, such as the

World Mission Offering, local missions and mission trips. The 2-year time frame for both budgets is from Mar 2013–Feb 2015.

The Projected Operating Budget is based on current giving trends as of December 2012.

$15MM NEW MISSIONAL MINISTRY $3.3MM MULTISITE (Current: Downtown and Cypress)

$6.6MM GIVE $12.7MM GROW $6.2MM GATHER $16.2MM CENTRAL SUPPORT

PROJECTEDOperating Budget

22%

$45MILLIONOVER 2 YEARS

MISSION 1:8Operating Budget

41%

$60MILLIONOVER 2 YEARS

55

Life Bible Study LESSONS

56

Lesson One The Source of Generosity

Obedience!

I wonder how the word strikes you emotionally?

Does it make you mad? Does it irritate you? Does it cause you delight?

Would you like the Christian faith better if it didn’t demand obedience? Would you like God better if He didn’t ask for

obedience? Would you like Jesus better if He had never said, “If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just

as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (John 15:10)?

Is obedience something you know you should do but don’t really want to do?

This week we will look at a passage that could be described as one of the hard passages of the Bible:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself,

take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. What is a man benefited if he

gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23-25)

If this is a passage that makes you bristle, here is something to keep in mind: God is good. His ways are good. Following

Him is good. It is always in our best interest to live the Christian life. It is always good for us to follow God. It is good for

us to be generous.

If you are a parent, this illustration might help. When your children were young, you demanded obedience, didn’t you?

You told your kids it was time to get in the car, and they got in the car. You told them not to play in the street and saw

that they obeyed.

You didn’t do this to be mean to them; you insisted they follow you for their benefit. The same is true of God. Over and

over in the Old Testament we read, “So that it may go well with you.” We are asked to obey so that it will go well for us.

There is no place this is more true than in the area of generosity. The Bible promises it:

•Agenerouspersonwillbeenriched,andtheonewhogivesadrinkofwaterwillreceivewater.(Proverbs 11:25)

•Agenerouspersonwillbeblessed,forheshareshisfoodwiththepoor.(Proverbs 22:9)

Questions to ponder:

1 How do you feel about obedience to God?

2 Why do you feel the way you do?

3 How do you feel about giving? Why?

4 How have you seen a generous person be blessed? (Proverbs 22:9)

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Life Bible Study Notes

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Lesson Two More than a Tithe: Model of a Generous Heart

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist who made his fortune by inventing dynamite and other powerful explosive

materials. Those materials, purchased by major governments around the world, were used to produce weapons of

destruction. When Nobel’s brother died, one newspaper printed Alfred’s obituary by mistake. In it, Nobel was described

as a man who became rich by enabling other people to kill each other in unprecedented numbers. When someone

sent a copy to him, Alfred Nobel was so shaken by the assessment of his life that he resolved to use the fortune he had

amassed to reward accomplishments that benefited humanity rather than destroy it. He established what we now know

as the Nobel Peace Prize.

Alfred Nobel had a rare opportunity. He was given the chance to see an evaluation of his life while he was still alive and

was able to change it. I sometimes wonder what each of us would do if we could have that same opportunity. What kind

of epitaph would be on our gravestones if it were written today? And if we were given a chance to change things, to re-

write the obituary, how effective would we be at making changes?

The Bible is clear that God in heaven is watching carefully how we live. Like the children sing in Sunday School, “Be

careful little hands what you do, for the Father up above is looking down in love.” That is a truth from which we cannot

escape and which I continue to understand better. It is a truth which two great gospel singers, Mahalia Jackson and Ethel

Waters, immortalized with the words, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” It is a great encouragement

to know that no matter where I go or what I do, my heavenly Father is watching over me, understanding my needs, and

caring for me. But there is another side to that: God is not only watching over my life for my protection, He is watching

over my life in order to evaluate it.

I’ve always thought it interesting that the last public act of Christ’s ministry was neither a sermon nor a miracle, but an

evaluation. Jesus visited Herod’s temple, sat down by the treasury, and watched what people gave to God. Our Lord

spent the last day of his public ministry looking at an offering.

Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people

were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. (Mark 12:41–42)

There were thirteen treasuries in the courtyard of the temple, each with a letter on it signifying the purpose of that

particular treasury. Each one was shaped like a tall box with a trumpet coming out of it much like that on the old RCA

pictures. When a man cast money into it, it was possible to make the coins roll around and be heard all over the temple.

Some people brought all their tithe in copper coins so that they could walk up and throw it in, filling the courtyard with

the sound of their gift. They gave so that they could be noticed. Jesus sat and watched these people as they walked by,

dropping coins into the boxes.

It should come as no surprise that Christ thought this action was important, for fully half His parables were devoted to

the issue of money. Fifteen percent of everything He said recorded in Scripture has to do with our attitudes and actions

with finances. Money, in one sense, is like life compressed. When we come to bring Him what we have earned, we are

literally taking our lives and compressing them into the coinage of our day, saying, “Here is my life, God. Here are my

hours and energy melted down into coins. I give it to you.”

No Old Testament worshipper would have dreamed of coming to the house of God empty-handed. He understood the

very essence of worship was to give back to God that which He had entrusted. The people wouldn’t dream of coming

into the temple without first going to the treasury box and giving to the Lord. And if the Lord took the time to watch the

treasury boxes in order to see how people worshipped in that comparatively poor culture, you can be sure He watches

them now in our age of affluence.

Of course, what we do with our money is our own business. To allow someone else to watch us write out a check is

uncomfortable, sometimes painful. But Jesus made it His business to know, and didn’t apologize for watching the

givers closely. He didn’t have to, for His gaze is the only one that counts. In my church, it doesn’t matter what I think

about someone’s giving pattern; it only matters what God thinks.

The Bible says that Jesus went over deliberately and sat next to the treasuries, and He “beheld” them. The word “beheld”

literally means gazed upon them as though they were a form of theater. He was close enough to see who threw in much

and who tossed in little. The Lord even noticed the two small coins coming from the withered hand of a widow, creating

an object lesson for His disciples. He saw the crowds milling about, watching both rich and poor put in their offerings.

Everybody came with something. And it makes me wonder, “What does God look for when He watches the treasury?”

Source: Giving to God: Study Guide by David Jeremiah, pp. 35–37, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN (2001).

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1 Do you consider yourself to be a generous person? Why or why not?

2 Why is it important to you to be considered a generous person?

3 How is your faith being encouraged by your generosity?

4 How has your faith been strengthened by someone else’s generosity?


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Lesson Three Generosity is Giving Our All to Others in Need

How people view money is an effective barometer of their spirituality. Money is neither good nor bad in itself; corrupt people can put it

to evil uses, while good people can put it to righteous uses. Though it is morally neutral, what people do with their money reflects their

internal morality. In the words of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

The Bible does not forbid the possession of money; in fact, it teaches that “God gives you the power to gain wealth” (Deuteronomy

8:18) and “richly provides us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Because of His blessing, many godly men in Scripture, such as

Job (Job 1:3), Abraham (Genesis 13:2), Isaac (Genesis 26:12–13), Jacob (Genesis 30:43), Boaz (Ruth 2:1), and Solomon (1 Kings 10:23),

were extremely wealthy. God promised His people that their obedience to Him would result in material as well as spiritual blessings

(Deuteronomy 15:4–6; 26:15; 28:11).

But while the Bible does not forbid possessing money, it does forbid loving it, warning that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of

evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Later in

that chapter, Paul exhorted Timothy to “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the

uncertainty of wealth.” (v. 17) To love money is to have an unhealthy affection for it and be driven to pursue it. Such a pursuit is the

height of folly. “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich,” the book of Proverbs counsels. “Stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your

eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself

and flies like an eagle to the sky.” (Proverbs 23:4–5) Though he was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived, Solomon was wise

enough to know that “the one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Achan’s love of money brought disaster to himself, his family, and his nation (Joshua 7:1–25). Balaam’s love of money caused him to

foolishly attempt to curse God’s chosen people (Numbers 22–24), which resulted in his death (Numbers 31:8). Delilah’s love of money

led her to betray Samson (Judges 16:4–6), which ultimately led to the death of thousands (Judges 16:27–30). Judas’ love of money

caused him to betray the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:14–16) and damn himself to eternal torment in hell (Matthew 26:24; Acts 1:25).

Ananias’ and Sapphira’s love of money led them to hypocritically lie about their giving (Acts 5:1–2), resulting in God’s execution of them

(Acts 5:5, 10).

Loving money makes people forget God (Deuteronomy 8:11–14; Proverbs 30:9), trust in their riches rather than Him (Job 31:24–28; Psalm

52:7; Proverbs 11:28), be deceived (Mark 4:19), compromise convictions, be proud (Deuteronomy 8:14), steal from God (Malachi 3:8), and

ignore the needs of others (1 John 3:17; cf. Proverbs 3:27). Love of money causes people to pursue it illegitimately by stealing (whether

directly [Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28] or by fraud [Psalm 37:21; Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11]), usury (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36–

37; Nehemiah 5:7, 10; Psalm 15:5; Proverbs 28:8), and gambling, which foolishly trusts in chance rather than in the providence of God.

The Bible lists several acceptable ways to acquire money, including gifts (Acts 20:35; Philippians 4:16), investments (Matthew 25:27),

saving (Proverbs 21:20; 30:25), wise planning (Proverbs 27:23–24), and, primarily, work (Exodus 20:9; Proverbs 6:6–8, 14:23, 24:30–34,

28:19; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8).

Those who violate biblical principles in regard to money may find that they do not have enough of it. People in that situation need to

consider whether they actually need more money, or merely want more. They should also recognize that their limited resources may

be God’s way of revealing that their priorities are wrong. Misuse of the resources God has given in the past—especially the abuse of

credit (cf. Proverbs 6:1–5, 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, 22:7)—may lead to a lack of resources in the present. People may also lack money because

of stinginess (Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24), impulsiveness or hastiness (Proverbs 21:5), lack of discipline (Proverbs 10:4, 13:18), laziness

(Proverbs 14:23, 19:15, 20:13, 24:30–34), indulgence (Proverbs 21:17, 23:21), and craftiness (Proverbs 28:19).

The Bible also gives guidelines on how to spend money. It is to be used to provide for the needs of one’s household (1 Timothy 5:8), pay

debts (Romans 13:8), and save for the future (Proverbs 21:20, 30:25). Having met those basic obligations, believers are ready to give

money to further the kingdom.

Though many view giving as merely another obligation, it is in reality a priceless privilege, because it is the pipeline which brings God’s

promised blessings to His people. In Luke 6:38 Jesus promised, “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down,

shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Paul

added, “The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.” (2

Corinthians 9:6) Significantly, the only direct quote from Jesus’ earthly ministry recorded outside of the Gospels addresses the issue of

giving: “In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord

Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Generous giving to God results in greater giving from God; it is impossible to outgive Him. The promises associated with giving should

stimulate believers to be sacrificially generous givers. Sadly, the powerful lure of the world’s advertising, slick appeals from purportedly

Christian ministries, self-indulgence, and lack of faith all hinder believers from experiencing the full blessing of giving.

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Source: 2 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary by John F. MacArthur, Jr., pp. 271–273, Moody

Publishers, Chicago (2003).


1 How would a really godly person feel about money?

2 What are the benefits of having money?

3 What dangers accompany money?

4 If you could change your attitude about money, would you? How so?


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Lesson Four God Gives Generously Through Us

The quality of a Christian’s discipleship may be measured in a number of ways. How concerned is he for the glory of

God? What is the quality of her prayer life? What kind of appetite does he have for the Word of God? Has she a concern

to reach others for Christ? Is there clear evidence of love for God and of others for Christ’s sake?

There is another important test that can be applied. What about his or her attitude to money? The work of God needs

finance, for Christian workers have to live, and buildings for purposes of worship, evangelism and teaching cost money,

even if they are rented. Then there is the cost of Bibles and literature for various Christian purposes, of necessary fares,

of financial aid to church members and others for whom the church feels a responsibility and who are in serious financial

difficulties. There is also the money needed when communities are hit by famine, plague or war and the problems which

arise from poverty. There are many other ways in which money needs to be spent in the service of Christ.

To say then that money does not matter is not to manifest a proper Christian spirituality but rather a naive ‘super-

spirituality.’ God created material things, as the very first chapter of the Bible tells us, and we need to use them

responsibly for His glory and for the progress of His gospel in the world He has made and which Christ died to redeem. It

has even been said that, in one important respect, Christianity is the most materialist of all world faiths, for it takes with

great seriousness the fact that God is the Creator of all we see and touch.

More likely than this super-spirituality, however, is that selfish materialism can find its way into our hearts because we live

in a grasping society and are not immune to the temptation to accumulate material things. Many of us live in a society

where material possessions are highly regarded, even used at times to measure a person’s value. We know what it means

when somebody asks, ‘How much is he worth?’ The fact that we do not need to ask the meaning of the question speaks

volumes about our modern Western society.

Perhaps Christians may hesitate to ask such a question, at least in that form, but the attitude it shows can easily rub off

on us. So it is good that in an epistle where so much relates to Christian service, Paul takes two chapters to deal with this

sensitive and important issue.

Source: 2 Corinthians: The Glories And Responsibilities Of Christian Service (Focus On The Bible) by Geoffrey Grogan, pp.

191–192, Christian Focus Publications, Ross-shire, Scotland (2007).


1 Think for a bit about this one: how do you feel about money?

2 Why do you think you feel as you do?

3 What problems come to those who think too much of money?

4 What problems come to those who don’t think enough about money?

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MESSAGE NOTES ACTS 4:33WEEK TWO | TREASuRED GRACE | FEb 3, 2013

“I went out in search of a place to preach. Upon inquiry I was informed that there never had been a sermon preached in the place.”

Z. N. Morrell

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MESSAGE NOTES ACTS 4:34–35WEEK THREE | NOT My OWN | FEb 10, 2013

“Convened at the usual place of worship, April 10, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one...for the purpose of forming an evan-gelistic church.”

James Huckins

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MESSAGE NOTES ACTS 4:36–5:11WEEK FOuR | THE HEART THAT GIvES | FEb 17, 2013

“I talk to every man who comes my way, and as yet I have not been repulsed.”

James Huckins

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MESSAGE NOTES ACTS 5:12–32 & 5:29WEEK FIvE | lISTENING TO & lED by THE lORD | FEb 24, 2013

When he landed in Galveston on Januaary 5, 1848, Dr. Rufus C. Burleson knelt in the sand and prayed, “Oh, God, give me Texas for Jesus, or I die.”

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