April 17, 2000
Young Hispanic Baptist church starts 23 others
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___HIDALGO--A Texas Baptist church that is only 18 months old itself started 23 churches last month.
___The reason Iglesia Bautista de la Communidad accomplished what larger churches have not is because "they wanted to do it; other churches don't," said E.B. Brooks, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Church Starting Center.
___"It has to do with the vision and mission of the church to send people out rather than just bring them in," Brooks said.
___Pastor Aaron de la Torre said the church is just getting started in its effort to begin new congregations. In addition to the 23 churches started in March, two more are set to start in April, and the church's goal for the year is 40.
___"We worked with our leaders and looked at the different areas and started churches in homes, and they just started having more people come," the pastor said. Each of the 23 congregations has 20 to 25 people in attendance.
___The new churches are located in Hidalgo, Alamo, Alton, Donna, Edinburg, Madero, McAllen, Mission, Palm View, Pharr, San Carlos and San Juan.
___The mother church began when de la Torre and four families came to Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association saying they wanted to start a new church, said Rick Hagar, director of missions. The association gave them a little assistance, and now the congregation has grown.
___The first Sunday in April was marked by attendance of 380, but the pastor was most pleased that 10 people professed faith in Christ that day and that new families are in attendance every week.
___While the church in less than two years old, it already is one of the top five Hispanic Baptist churches in the state in weekly attendance, Brooks said.
___And he has a ready answer for why that is so.
___"I think it is the Lord's blessing on the church for being missionary. They are doing a great work there."
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