Giving_Crossing_over

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One Day Soon
Every Other Texan Will Be Hispanic
Join us in creating a new generation of cross-cultural leaders

THE NEW TEXAS: A Cultural Crossover

While experts predict that Hispanics will be the next great missionary force to cross the globe, the reality of a cross-cultural Texas is already here. The rapid emergence of Hispanic populations is seasoning our state with Hispanic culture from the borderlands to urban boardrooms. And Christians are hearing the call to embrace the opportunities and challenges of cross-cultural ministry with passion and fervor.

Whether one is a first-generation immigrant or a fourth generation Hispanic-American, culture and heritage inform every aspect of life. And learning how to confidently cross over cultural divides – whether you originate from Hispanic or Anglo culture – will be a priority skill in 21^st century Texas.

This is where Baptist University of the Américas is vitally important to the future of ministry in Texas. Hispanic Texans will need thousands of new churches to nurture their faith. Hispanic Texans will need education, healthcare and human services provided by people with both cross-cultural skills and Christian compassion.

And since coming generations of Hispanics will be younger on
average, the physical and spiritual needs of millions of Hispanic children and youth are an urgent priority.

HISPANIC TEXANS:
A growing resource for mission and ministry

The numbers are clear. Not only will half the population need cross-cultural ministry, but that same Hispanic-half are our greatest human resource for providers of ministry. Hispanics will soon comprise half our population base for volunteers, leaders, and supporters of Christian work.

That’s a good thing, because we need leaders who are equally fluent not only in the languages of Hispanic and Anglo cultures but more importantly in their worldviews, life experiences, values, artistic preferences, daily practices and decision making styles. This new kind of cross-cultural leader will help us all understand one another better and work together to build cohesive, cooperative churches and communities with opportunity for everyone.

New generations of Hispanic Baptists will invigorate our historic passion for Christian mission. They are already strengthening our effectiveness in mission with their easy acceptance in non-western cultures, their relative familiarity with the challenges of poverty and economic struggle, their vibrant worship and vigorous preaching, and their strong family values that emphasize the importance of religious faith, relationships and community.

And trained cross-cultural leaders will become one of Texas Baptist’s greatest exports as we send Hispanic church planters, pastors and missionaries across the country and around the world. At BUA, we recognize that we have become the premiere provider of Hispanic ministers to many states where Hispanic numbers are rapidly growing but there are no educational opportunities in a Hispanic context.

The future is bright for Texas and Texas Baptist work, but it will require new cross-cultural competencies and a new kind of ministry leader. And we believe investing in the education and formation of these new leaders will produce more spiritual and social impact than almost any other opportunity before us.

BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMÉRICAS: A Bold New Vision

Under the dynamic direction of our president, Dr. Albert Reyes, Baptist University of the Américas has experienced a 400% growth rate in enrollment in just the last few years. We’re finding educational needs, filling those needs, and experiencing unprecedented success.

New, fully-accredited degree programs, online education, expanded options for professional minors, college readiness courses and satellite Bible Institutes are attracting a record number of students from throughout Texas and the United States, as well as from fifteen Latin American countries.

Our graduates are also gladly discovering that they are in high demand. Every 2005 graduate received either a job offer or graduate school acceptance. Our graduates are starting churches and bringing new energy to existing churches. They are providing bilingual, bicultural services to Baptist social services agencies and denominational ministries. They are answering the call to missions in Middle-Eastern, African and Asian countries. And they are working alongside spouses in ministry while fulfilling their Christian calling as public school teachers and community volunteers.

Certainly our unique appreciation for the cultural aspects of ministry has fueled our success, but we believe it’s our personal attention to students that makes the most difference. BUA is designed to directly overcome the academic, economic, and cultural obstacles that face many Hispanic students needing a college education.

The plain truth is that for many Hispanic students, graduate theological schools and seminaries are not options that they can envision for themselves. But a BA degree from BUA is an achievable goal, offered in a culturally affirming environment, with a generous measure of encouragement. And those with more developmental needs find assistance with language skills and practical non-degree level ministry training.

We believe the momentum and success we are experiencing is evidence that Texas Baptists are living in what the Scriptures call a kairos moment, a God-ordained time for something special. That something special is the calling and equipping of Hispanic Christians and those who will live and work among Hispanic cultures.

THE CHALLENGE: Addressing the Future

For BUA’s growth to continue, we must expand and upgrade our facilities to accommodate more students in residence, alleviate overcrowding, improve student services and expand academic offerings.

Our current 12-acre campus that was established over 40 years ago has been maximized and cannot sustain our growth. Every semester we are forced to turn away students who require housing we cannot provide. Our faculty and staff are housed two and three to an office and there is no room to expand critical services such as our Learning Resources Center, computer lab and information technology departments. Though our 40 year-old facilities are maintained as well as they can be, they are not sufficient to support the growth we are experiencing today and the growth we anticipate in the future.

We Dream Of …

· Enough land to construct efficient and expanded facilities for
the next 50 years

· Immediately tripling our student housing capacity from 60 to 180 students to accommodate our growing waiting list

· Operational funds to expand faculty and staff, upgrade technology and enhance learning resources so we can increase our course offerings and services to congregations, alumni, and Baptist mission efforts (40% of our operating budget is funded by donations)

· Scholarship funds to provide tuition assistance to the maximum number of students who face economic barriers

In the spring of 2006, these dreams began to become reality.
With the visionary financial partnership of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, we have purchased a new 78-acre tract of land that is located across the highway from our current campus. This convenient location will enable us to continue operating from our current campus while we construct a new campus that will accommodate our growth.

CROSSING OVER TOGETHER:
A Comprehensive Capital Campaign

In order to build on our momentum and proceed with construction of new facilities, the university is launching a three-year, comprehensive capital campaign totaling $9 million. We are asking for your help in making a three-year financial pledge that will enable us to build an educational bridge for coming generations of cross-cultural ministry leaders.

Phase 1 of the Crossing Over Together campaign is designed to provide
$6 million for capital improvements and $3 million for operating expenses. Major capital projects include the infrastructure development of the new campus and construction of a student housing village providing apartment-styled living for up to 180 students. The new student village will include five apartment buildings in a development that will ultimately feature several more buildings at a later date. With groundbreaking on August 29, 2006, the
Piper Student Village is slated to open for the fall semester of 2007.

WE’RE OVER HALF WAY THERE

With the generosity of the John & Eula Mae Baugh family, the Crossing Over Together campaign received an inaugural $3 million matching gift that effectively doubles every one of your contributions up to that amount. In addition, the Paul & Katy Piper family have also provide a foundational gift of $1 million along with an interest free loan of $2.5 million through their Christ is Our Salvation Foundation. Having supported countless Baptist causes, these generous philanthropists have realized that now is the time to invest in Baptist University of Américas, and they have lead the way to the extent that we have already met over half our campaign goal with $ 5 million pledged to date.

Now we hope you will join in this historic effort

We encourage you to consider whether there is any more urgent Christian cause than helping us prepare for the coming cross-cultural future of Texas Baptist work. Through a gift to the Crossing Over Together campaign, you can make a tremendous difference in the life of each of our students, and ultimately in the countless lives of people they will serve in their lifetime of Christian service. When you invest in people, you invest in eternity.

AN INVITATION: How to Make a Donation

Our Crossing Over Together campaign will kick off with a Groundbreaking Service on August 29, 2006 and will conclude the week of Thanksgiving. The campaign also coincides with our 60^th Anniversary Founder’s Day Celebration on October 17^th. Brochures with information from this page and response cards and envelopes will be mailed out to BUA donors on August 29 as well.

But you don’t have to wait to pledge your financial support. There are several ways in which you may make a contribution:

Three-Year Online Pledges & Gifts
You may conveniently pledge online by going back to the www.bua.com homepage and clicking on the online giving icon, or simply click here. This will take you to a page that describes our completely secure and confidential process for online giving. The online giving system welcomes credit cards, automatic drafts and electronic checks in either one time or regularly scheduled payments.

Three-Year Pledge Response Card
Enclosed in the mailing you will find a pledge certificate and response envelope which you can inform us of your Crossing Over Together commitment and include any inaugural gift. We ask that you please return this pledge certificate before Thanksgiving, November 23, 2006.

Amigos Monthly Gifts
If you or your church are already monthly Amigos contributors, please estimate the total amount of your pledge for the coming three years beginning September 1, 2006 and enter that as your pledge amount, either online or on the enclosed pledge certificate.

One-Time Gifts
While we are encouraging people to plan in terms of a three-year gift, we certainly welcome one-time gifts. Please make this your pledge, either online or on the response certificate and give us some idea when you will be making the gift.

Planned Giving: Gifts of Assets or Income-Producing Assets
If you wish to make a donation of assets such as real estate, stocks or bonds, or arrange asset-producing trusts, you are invited to consult the Advancement Office. If needed the Baptist Foundation of Texas can assist you with legal matters. As with all financial considerations, the development staff encourages you to discuss potential tax advantages and other aspects of charitable giving with your attorney, tax advisor or financial consultant.

Gifts in Kind
Gifts in kind of items or services required for by the University may be arranged through consultation with the Advancement Department at BUA.

We are confident that with your generosity and vision,

Baptist University of the Américas, together with our friends,

alumni and supporters will indeed Cross Over Together

and claim a new era for cross-cultural ministry in Texas.

Click here for online giving