April 23, 2001
Arlington student drowns
while attending Hispanic Congreso
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___CORPUS CHRISTI--An 18-year-old Arlington student attending the Texas Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso drowned while swimming in Corpus Christi Bay April 13.
___Terrance Williams, a senior at Bowie High School and member of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Arlington, was reported missing about 4:30 p.m. April 13. The U.S. Coast Guard, Marina Patrol and other authorities looked for Williams until suspending their search about 9:30 p.m. They resumed search efforts the following morning, and divers recovered his body at 1:45 p.m April 14.
___Pastor Jonathan Hernandez of Primera Iglesia Bautista described Williams as "a very outgoing young person--one of the best young people in our church ... . He always had a smile on his face and was uplifting to the other young people when they were down."
___Williams had been a member of Primera and an active part of the youth group there about two years.
___"He helped in all areas of church work," including volunteering in children's church and serving as an assistant in Sunday School, Hernandez added.
___The drowning occurred on Good Friday afternoon, during free time between Congreso sessions. While most of the group from Primera Arlington went to a public beach, Williams and three other teenagers from the church chose to stay in the area near their hotel to sightsee along the Bayfront.
___The four teenagers reportedly entered a fenced area of the Bayfront marina, considered by locals to be a "no swimming" zone due to a strong undertow. Witnesses said three of the young people initially went into the water on the Lawrence Street T-Head and attempted to swim toward the seawall. When they encountered difficulty, the fourth teen jumped in, attempting to help.
___A 15-year-old girl and two young men from the church, ages 16 and 18, were treated for minor injuries at a Corpus Christi hospital. ?
___Twenty-seven youth and adult sponsors from Primera Arlington were in Corpus Christi to attend Texas Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso, an annual event sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its Center for Strategic Evangelism. Wayne Shuffield, acting director of the center, expressed sorrow and concern for the Williams family and the members of the Arlington church.
___"Everyone involved in Congreso was saddened by the tragic death of Terrance Williams. We continue to pray for his family and for the members of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Arlington, and we want to do all that we can to minister to them at this time," Shuffield said.
___Soon after Hernandez and Shuffield learned about the incident, they contacted the parents of the young people involved. Shuffield spoke with Jesse Williams, father of the missing student, and made arrangements to fly him to Corpus Christi Friday evening. The Omni Bayfront, headquarters hotel for the Congreso, provided complimentary lodging for the family during their stay in Corpus Christi.
___BGCT evangelism consultants Chuck Flowers and Kenneth Blake, along with Forrest Smith, associate director of missions for Corpus Christi Baptist Association, accompanied and sought to comfort the parents and the group from Primera Arlington.
___Shuffield chose to adjust the agenda somewhat at the Friday evening Congreso session, in light of the events of that day. The Katinas, a popular Christian musical group, had been scheduled to perform a two-hour concert. Rather than cancel the event altogether, he decided to inform the young people and help them deal with the situation.
___Shuffield announced the unfolding tragedy to the more than 2,900 assembled young people. Then Congreso keynote speaker Jon Randles, an evangelist from Lubbock, spoke.
___"Jon and I had talked about what was appropriate. The purpose was not to stir up emotions, but to help the young people deal with life or death issues," Shuffield said.
___Randles offered a public invitation, limiting it only to those who wished to make a profession of faith in Christ, and 29 young people responded. A slightly abbreviated concert followed the message, and Saturday events at Congreso proceeded as originally scheduled.
___When the Primera youth group and their sponsors returned to Arlington on Saturday evening, April 14, Dan McGee, director of BGCT counseling and psychological services, met with them.
___"A bilingual chaplain was there from a nearby congregation, and we were able to assist church members in offering counseling for the young people," McGee said. He also offered to talk with the teenagers and adult sponsors again later in the week.
___On Easter Sunday morning, Hernandez said the English language service at Primera was devoted entirely to youth testimonies and tributes to Williams, and the youth minister spoke at the Spanish-language service.
___"God was in it, directing everything," he said. "The music by the praise team was low key, reminding us of our faith in God, the security we find in the Lord and the promise of that place called heaven."
___Primera Iglesia Bautista in Arlington has established a fund to assist the Williams family. Checks made payable to the church, designated for the family, may be sent to 1420 E. Mayfield Rd., Arlington 76014-2900.
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