Bell Award honors church that's mother to six others
___DALLAS--Iglesia Bautista en Memoria de Calvario of Reynosa, Mexico, received the annual River Ministry "Bell Award" Oct. 30.
___Meliton Vasquez, interim pastor, accepted the "Dr. Elmin K. Howell Jr. Bell" on behalf of the church. Vasquez is the son-in-law of Eladio
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MELITON VASQUEZ accepts the Bell Award from Elmin Howell, former director of the BGCT's River Ministry, recognizing his church's efforts in missions.
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Zavala, the church's pastor who died in an August auto accident.
___Memoria de Calvario is the "sole sponsor" of six missions and helps sponsor another one. The church also has a medical clinic in its building and sponsors a children's home that cares for nine children. It also has a breakfast program for about 50 kids.
___"A great missions vision was instilled in this congregation" by Zavala, the printed program stated. "Due to his leadership, the church has continuously been involved in beginning new ministries during the past few years."
___Dexton Shores, director of River Ministry with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, presided over the luncheon meeting. "This has been a wonderful year," he said, explaining that the River Ministry office moved to San Antonio, allowing him to be on-site with River Ministry projects more often.
___Angela Rodriguez of Iglesia Bautista Hampton Place in Dallas, told about a mission team from her church that traveled to the Rio Grande Valley. They put a roof on a church's Sunday School building and held a Vacation Bible School.
___It was "such a beautiful experience," Rodriguez said. "I encourage you to get a group together from your church and go and do this."
___Wayne Grant, coordinator of River Ministry health care, said more than 800 medical volunteers treated more than 40,000 patients last year. There now is a special need for optometrists and dentists, he said.
___Stephen Crane, a junior at Dallas Baptist University and 2001 summer missionary, said he learned of God's protection and blessing while serving in the River Ministry.
___Churches along the river need "for us to go down there and share Christ with them" more than anything else, Crane said.
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