SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Participants at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas annual meeting June 27-29 remembered how God has been faithful in working through the body for a century, celebrated how he continues to use it today and anticipated how he will use it in the future as the state's Hispanic population continues to grow and diversify.
The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas honored educator and historian Josue Grijalva for his years of service to Hispanic Texas Baptists.
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The body that began in 1910 with a gathering of members from 24 Hispanic congregations drew a crowd of about 3,000 — including about 800 youth — during its centennial annual meeting. The group — often referred to as the Convencion — now has about 1,200 affiliated congregations across the state.
In business matters, messengers elected officers and approved a new unification agreement with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
And a BGCT leader announced that he would nominate the Convencion's president for the highest office in the sister convention when the BGCT meets in November in McAllen, Texas.
President Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio, is in the middle of his two-year term as Convencion president. Jesse Rincones, pastor of Alliance Baptist Church in Lubbock, was elected first vice president. Manuel Rios, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario (Mt. Calvary Baptist Church) in San Antonio, was elected second vice president. Daniel “Tiny” Dominguez, pastor of Community Heights Baptist Church in Lubbock, was elected third vice president. Rafael Munoz, a member of Rodriguez's church, was elected secretary.
Hispanic Baptist Convention messengers overwhelmingly approved a new unification agreement with the BGCT. The unification agreement outlines the cooperative relationship between the two conventions. Under the restated agreement, the president of the Hispanic convention will become a voting member of the BGCT Executive Board.
In the annual convention message, Luis Gabriel César Isunza, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista de Ciudad Satélite, Mexico, told the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas that God gives people visions and dreams of the future. (PHOTOS/BGCT/John Hall)
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In the annual convention message, Luis Gabriel César Isunza, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista de Ciudad Satélite in suburban Mexico City, said God gives people visions and dreams of what the future can be like. When people follow God’s calling — no matter how long or arduous the journey may be — great things can be accomplished.
“He puts a dream, a vision, a determination” in individual hearts, he said. “Then that vision captures a man.”
In his president’s address, Rodriguez reminded people how God has worked through the Convencion in the past 100 years. Although there were struggles at times, God has used Hispanic Texas Baptists to reach people throughout the state, in Mexico and around the globe, he said.
Rodriguez praised the generations of Hispanic Baptist leaders who committed themselves to expanding God’s Kingdom. Calling them “heroes” and “missionaries,” Rodriguez said Hispanic Baptist work continues to grow because of the dedication of these men and women.
As Texas’ Hispanic population continues to grow, the Hispanic Baptist Convention’s importance increases as well, he said. Because they have common cultural connections, Hispanic Baptists are strategically positioned to share the gospel with other Hispanics in Texas.
Dallas Baptist University President Gary Cook (center) and Frank Palos (left), director of Hispanic evangelism with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, enjoy mariachi music at a reception sponsored by DBU. (PHOTO/BGCT/John Hall)
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“Remember Jesus was the rock,” Rodriguez said. “He is the rock. He will continue to be the rock for our convention. In the future, we will continue to be around because he is our rock.”
Dominguez said he is amazed at the progress Hispanic Baptists have made. In the span of 100 years, Hispanics have gone from a group that many churches did not want attending their services to a population churches are striving to reach.
In the process, he observed, Hispanic Baptist churches have grown from being the target of short-term missions efforts to being mission forces themselves.
“We have gone from being the missionary project to being the missionary,” he said.
Despite the progress, San Antonio Baptist Association Hispanic Church Planting & Health Consultant Roland Lopez believes much work remains for Hispanic churches.
“We cannot live on the successes of yesterday,” he preached. “Many of our churches have a lot of fellowship locally. This is good, but not so good because they haven’t baptized a single person the whole year.
“People from other congregations come from out of town to join our church. This is great, but not so great because few people are being reached by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is it that we don’t believe in the power of Jesus Christ?”
Dallas-area pastor Ellis Orozco announced his intention to nominate Rodriguez for the BGCT presidency shortly after the Convencion meeting adjourned.
“I know Victor Rodriguez to be one of
those rare leaders who can relate to people of all ages, backgrounds and
heritages,” said Orozco, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richardson.
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John Hall is news director for Texas Baptists. Texas Baptist Standard Managing Editor Ken Camp contributed to this story.