The most famous arena ever built in the Roman Empire was the Colosseum. After eight years of construction, the 50,000-seat arena was completed in 80 AD and was opened with great fanfare. For approximately four centuries, the arena was used for gladiator combats and public entertainment events. Due to storms, earthquakes and overall deterioration the arena was abandoned shortly thereafter.
Physical arenas for boxing matches, rodeos, and other public events are sometimes entertaining, but, like the Roman Colosseum, they are not eternal. Only God’s Kingdom is forever. God gives believers arenas in which we are expected to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). That is why it is so important for the Baptist Church Loan Corporation (“BCLC”) to stay in God’s given arenas so that we might do our part to fight the good fight of faith by providing assistance to God’s churches and thereby assisting in Kingdom growth each and every day.
Domingo
BCLC has been blessed through the years because God has placed partners in our God-given arenas to help us. One such partner was Domingo, a man living in the Texas Rio Grande Valley who provided assistance to us through his local Baptist association. Domingo provided us with knowledge of the churches and the needs in the Rio Grande Valley and consistently introduced us to churches in need of financial assistance. Through our partnership with Domingo, BCLC was able to serve many churches in south Texas. Domingo was successful because he was willing to step into the arena daily in order to grow the local church and the Kingdom of God.
BCLC believes that God will continue to provide partners like Domingo so that we can do our part to grow the Kingdom by providing financial assistance to churches in other arenas across the country.
BCLC
The most popular portion of Theodore Roosevelt’s most well-known speeches (“The Man in the Arena”) is being shown throughout our 2021 Annual Report. The speech focuses on those who battle daily, on those who are actually in the arena striving for a worthy cause.
BCLC believes that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ gives all of us access to arenas in which we can have eternal impact. Some days we are successful with our efforts to fight the good fight of faith. Other days, our lack of faith discourages our efforts. The most important thing is that we be strong, stay in the arena and continue the good fight of faith.
Thank you to the many men and women who have volunteered the time and skills to serve on the BCLC Board of Directors.
Gerald R. James, Jr.
President / CEO
Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense.”
