November 17, 1999
Garcia urges fully integrated
future for Hispanics in BGCT
___By Russ Dilday
___Buckner News Service
___EL PASO--Jimmy Garcia shared his dream for Texas Baptists--racial integration --with about 600 participants attending the Texas Baptists Committed annual breakfast at the El Paso Airport Hilton Nov. 9.
___"The vision I have for Texas Baptists today and my dream for the future is that Texas Baptist churches will become the most integrated place in America on Sunday morning," said Garcia, ethnic missions coordinator for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___The breakfast was the 10th annual gathering held by Texas Baptists Committed in conjunction with the BGCT annual session. The group was borne out of the continuing political struggle for leadership within the BGCT and Southern Baptist Convention. In recent years, the group has become the major political force in BGCT life.
JIMMY GARCIA
___Garcia reminded listeners of Texas Baptists' long-standing partnership between Anglo and Hispanic churches. "Before we can talk about a future for the BGCT and Hispanic Baptists, we must remember the past and the missionary foundation of this enterprise.
___"It has been a cooperative effort between Anglo and Hispanic Baptists," Garcia told the group. "As early as 1839, Baptists were preparing a plan to preach and teach among the Hispanic population.
___"We have begun a journey that never really has ended, and we have worked together, both groups, in evangelizing Texas," Garcia said, noting that today the BGCT includes 966 Hispanic Baptist congregations of more 100 members each
___"However, the challenge remains ... great," he quickly added. "There are 6 million Hispanics living in Texas, and soon that number will reach 8 million. It is in these times that we need a vision for Texas Baptists for the 21st century."
___Future advances would be aided by "the creation by Texas Baptists of a vehicle that will effectively and efficiently focus on the reaching and integrating of Hispanics in the churches of our convention."
___Garcia did not specify exactly what that vehicle should be, instead focusing on the call for some type of intentionally focused effort.
___During the breakfast, participants also honored Carlos Pareles, executive director of the Mexican Baptist Convention of Texas, and his wife, Irene, an educator and Woman's Missionary Union leader.
___Texas Baptists Committee Co-chair Rudy Sanchez said he admires Pareles "for his straightforwardness, for his beliefs as a Baptist."
___"He has been an inspiration for us," Sanchez said. "We chose him for his forthrightness as a representative of Jesus Christ."
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