The Rio Texas Conference Advance program is modeled on The Advance of the General Board of Global Ministries. It is an accountable, designated, “second-mile” giving arm of the annual conference that ensures 100% of each gift reaches its intended mission or ministry. You, the donor, decide which program or ministry to support through the Rio Texas Advance. The Conference Treasurer's Office receives and processes your gifts and forwards them to the project. The project receives 100% of every gift given through the Rio Texas Advance.
“Five Star” is the designation given to Rio Texas Conference congregations that participate in the Advance program by doing the following things:
- paying 100% of their apportionments
- contributing toward UMCOR Sunday (formerly called One Great Hour of Sharing)
- contributing in each of the following FIVE mission categories a. one Rio Texas district or conference Advance project b. one national Advance project somewhere else in the U.S. c. one international Advance project d. one UMCOR project e. support for a Global Ministries missionary
In 2025, 62 Rio Texas Conference churches achieved Five Star mission giving status, an increase from 60 churches.
The report lists all Five Star churches by district. Central District includes Seguin: La Trinidad, Carrizo Springs, Crystal City – Swindall Memorial, Kerrville – Barnett Chapel, North Shore, Floresville, several San Antonio congregations (Alamo Heights, East St. Paul, Emanuel, Epworth, Ernest T. Dixon, Jacob's Chapel, Oak Meadow, Sanford Chapel, St Matthew's, Travis Park, Trinity, Westlawn), Brackettville, Del Rio: First, Rankin, and San Angelo: Wesley Trinity. North District includes Austin: Emmanuel, Austin: Northwest Hills, Austin: Wesley, Austin: Westlake, Bend, Cedar Park: First, Kempner, Leander, Bastrop, Columbus: St. Paul, Luling: First, Luling: Wm Taylor, Stevens Chapel, Buda, San Marcos: Jackson Chapel, Wimberley, and Fentress. South District includes Beeville: First, Bruni, CC: Grace, Goliad: Fannin St., Kingsville: El Buen Pastor, Odem: First, Palacios, Port Lavaca: First, Portland: First, Skidmore, Evan's Chapel, Runge, Shiner: First, Shiner: Johnson's Chapel, Telferner, Victoria: First, Victoria: Webster Chapel, Brownsville: Templo Emmanuel, Edinburg: First, McAllen: First, McAllen: St. Mark, San Benito: First, and Laredo: La Trinidad.
We are grateful to each of these congregations for their generous mission giving in 2025. All district and conference Advance projects must re-apply for listing every quadrennium. Rio Texas Advance catalog for the 2025-2028 quadrennium will be online on the conference website soon, and approved projects will be ready to receive contributions from generous congregations across the annual conference.
Becky Wright Rio Texas Conference Secretary of Global Ministries