The story of Texas and Iowa overlaps in so many ways. Several years ago, when Greg Baker was in Texas visiting the Church Ambassador Network Team, he attended a meeting at Bonton Farms in South Dallas with Bryan English and Ron Kelley from Prestonwood Baptist church in Plano.
The story of Bonton Farms is one of radical redemption and transformation, not just of the many lives, but of the neighborhood itself. In just over a decade, the Bonton neighborhood has gone from one of the most dangerous in the country to one of the safest in Dallas. The transformation has garnered national attention, and everyone involved is quick to point out that only Jesus could bring such a complete change to what had been such a hopeless situation.
At that meeting, Greg and Bryan met Daron Babcock, who founded Bonton Farms, and now works with the Stand Together Foundation. Daron has since become a key national partner for The DANiEL Impact, traveling to Iowa and several other states where we have a Church Ambassador Network.
In October, Daron welcomed Kurt Weaver, the Church Ambassador Network Director for Pennsylvania, and leadership from the Philadelphia Gospel Movement, to Bonton Farms. Bryan English and Ryan Richardson, our new Senior Director out of the Fort Worth area, joined the delegation from PA for the visit.
What started in Iowa has taken root in 18 states. The collaboration and vision casting that took place during this one-day meeting has the potential to impact Pennsylvania, Texas, Iowa, and beyond! Moments like this are an example of the network developing momentum as the ministry paradigm grows.
The CAN TX team was able to attend the Stand Sunday conference in DeSoto that was hosted by Harvest Family Life Ministries and Bishop Aaron Blake. Bishop Aaron and Mary Blake welcomed six teenage boys from foster care into their family, and their experience helped launch Harvest Family Life Ministries. Attending the conference allowed our team to network with pastors who have a heart for foster care and adoption, as well as some of the parents who have opened their homes for this important ministry to children.
As our work in Texas includes a focus on child welfare, we are making every effort to get to know, network with, and support partner ministries that are doing great work. At the conference, our team spent time with other partners in the space, including Mark Reidland with Hope Local, Maridel Sandberg, who founded Together for Good (TFG), and Jason Weber with the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).
