July 24, 2000

Hispanic churches recognized for top giving, church growth
___HOUSTON--Hispanic Texas Baptist churches received awards for Cooperative Program contributions as well as participation in Bible study/discipleship and church starting during conferences at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas annual meeting this summer.
___Five congregations were recognized for contributions through the Cooperative Program unified budget. The top giving churches in the five categories, their pastors and contributions last year:
___ 1-50 resident members, Mision Bautista Nueva Vida in Mount Pleasant, Jose Mancera, $3,756.
___ 51-100 resident members, Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel of Houston, Jose Martinez Jr., $6,105.
___ 101-150 resident members, Iglesia Bautista Getsemani, Fort Worth, Julio Guarneri, $11,132.
___ 151-250 resident members, Iglesia Bautista Stonegate, Alice, Alfredo Benavidez, $12,466.
___ 250 or more resident members, Primera Iglesia Bautista, Corpus Christi, Mateo Rendon, $18,337.
___Nine congregations were honored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Bible study/discipleship division for numerical growth.
___Iglesia West Brownsville was recognized for enrolling 413 people in discipleship training, a 179 percent growth.
___In the Bible study enrollment categories, four churches were recognized:
___ 0-99 enrollment, Iglesia Vista al Cielo, Austin, 64 new members enrolled.
___ 100-199 enrollment, Iglesia Avondale, Houston, 120 new members enrolled.
___ 200-299 enrollment, Iglesia Houston, Houston, 125 new members enrolled.
___ 300 or more enrollment, Templo, Lubbock, 166 new members enrolled.
___Three congregations were honored for percentage growth:
___ Calvario in Corpus Christi grew from a new start to 299 enrolled.
___ Buen Pastor in Alice saw a 224 percent increase in Bible study.
___ Centro Christian of Houston experienced growth surpassing 600 percent.
___During a banquet at the convention, 190 congregations were recognized for having started new work since the first of 2000.
___"It is a great privilege to start a church and to help it grow toward the likeness of Christ," BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade told the participants.
___E.B. Brooks, director of the BGCT Church Starting Center, said 679 Hispanic churches have been started since the Hispanic Baptist Convention launched its Vision 2000 emphasis in 1994, surpassing the goal of 600 new congregations.

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