December 30, 2002
Recent Baylor grad urges Hispanics to follow in his steps
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___WACO--Noe Reyes may have come from "nothing," but he believes God has provided him with everything he needs.
___Although his family never suffered, Reyes experienced a meager childhood following around his father, who was pastor of several small Hispanic churches.
___Reyes dreamed of attending Baylor University, but his family could not afford the tuition. Despite the lack of funding, Reyes was determined to attend the Baptist General Convention of Texas school.
NOE REYES speaks at a rally of Hispanic Baptists in Waco this fall, urging other young Hispanic Baptists to go to college.
___"The only place I really ever wanted to come was Baylor," Reyes said.
___He enrolled at Baylor and set up a monthly payment plan to finance his education, with help from a BGCT Ethnic Missions Scholarship. He worked about 30 hours a week and saved all the money he could to make the payments, but money still was tight.
___The more he had to stretch his money, the more he leaned on God for guidance, he said. "I remember sitting in the dorm without money and with bills to pay, but I felt this is where God wanted me. I would say to myself: 'God will provide. I'm going to do this. I'm going to get it done.'"
___His sophomore year, he gained several scholarships, including the BGCT Ministerial Scholarship and the first Earl Patrick Scholarship from Baylor. Reyes was grateful and relieved to get the scholarships, which covered most of his tuition. He continued to work as hard as he had his freshman year.
___"There are people out there who want to help those who work hard," Reyes said.
___He expressed his appreciation in a more personal way to Earl Patrick, a Waco businessman, as the two quickly became friends. The duo often went to lunch or met at basketball games during the next several years to discuss what was going on in each other's lives.
___"He's a nice kid and a hard working man," Patrick said.
___With his financial health secured, Reyes went on to graduate with a degree in international business and economics in 1999. In appreciation for everything Patrick had done for their son, the Reyes family went to eat with Patrick.
___"They were so appreciative," Patrick said. "You would have thought I gave them a million dollars."
___After graduation, Reyes--whose father once told him, "Really, we come from nothing"-- enrolled in Baylor Law School. He paid for his tuition largely with loans, but his biggest challenge would be academic. The rugged course load and tireless nights almost did him in, Reyes said.
___"This place is incredibly difficult," said Reyes, who also serves as a worship leader at Amistad Baptist Church in Waco. "There were four or five times I wanted to give up. The stress was high. The nights were long. The work was hard."
___He never gave up, however, believing he was following God's will. Living his life by faith and working hard, Reyes graduated from law school in November.
___"In my personal life, the way God talks to me is through my heart," he said. "I know it is God because of the consistency of my heart and the fruits of my decisions."
___Reyes testified at the Hispanic Rally prior to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session in November. He told his story of working his way through college and law school and encouraged Hispanics to become more educated.
___"It was a culmination of all the blessings of the Lord," Reyes said of his testimonial. "It was my opportunity to tell the Hispanic Baptist community that this is something you can do."
___Reyes encourages all Texas Hispanics--including his two sisters, one a sophomore at Baylor and the other a senior in high school--to prove wrong those who tell them they cannot go to college. Do not pay attention to those who are trying to bring Hispanics down or press them into stereotypical roles, Reyes urged.
___If Hispanics will follow God's leading and work hard, they will accomplish their goals, he insisted.
___"First of all, trust the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength," he said. "I think that's the key. You can do whatever you want. If you can work hard enough, you can achieve your goals. I stand behind that proposition 100 percent. I have seen it in my life."
___Reyes soon will take the bar exam, and he is working as a law clerk in Waco.
___As he looks for career employment, Reyes believes God will provide once again.
___"The Lord has come through when I needed him," he said, smiling. "I have no doubt he will be there again."
___
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