Hispanic Baptists commit to missions challenges in Texas

July 1, 2002

Hispanic Baptists commit to missions challenges in Texas
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___EL PASO--Messengers to the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas re-elected Houston pastor Antonio Estrada as president and committed themselves to missionary challenges in Texas, Mexico and throughout Latin America.
___More than 1,000 Hispanic Texas Baptists--roughly half of them elected messengers and half registered guests--attended the convention, held June 24-25 in El Paso. "Renewing Ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ" was the theme of the 92nd annual event.
___Messengers also approved constitution and bylaws changes to bring the convention's leadership structure in line with its vision and priorities. The vision of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas is "to become a united family of dive

OFFICERS Antonio Estrada, South Main Baptist Church of Houston, president; Angel Vela, Iglesia Bautista Westway in El Paso, first vice president; Manuel Rios, Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario in San Antonio, second vice president; Micaela Camacho, Iglesia Bautista Genesis in Fort Worth, third vice president; Rolando Rodriguez of Iglesia Bautista Hampton Place in Dallas, secretary; and Guadalupe Fonseca, Iglesia Bautista Sur Zarzamora in San Antonio, honorary president.

rse, spiritually healthy churches networking and developing resources, leaders and organizational systems to impact Texas and the world with the presence of Christ."
___The amended governing documents assign to each of the vice presidents the implementation of tasks related to one of the convention's three priorities: "to identify and develop transformational leaders, to identify and network resources to serve all churches, and to develop and network organizational systems and accountability processes that will lead to customized services for all churches."
___The convention also established the Ruth and Rudy Sanchez fund to benefit pastors and chaplains who have been in the ministry for at least 30 years and to provide for the widows of veteran ministers. Messengers and guests contributed more than $1,400 to start the fund.
___In his presidential address, Estrada told Hispanic Texas Baptists they face two alternatives--either accept the challenge to be renewed spiritually or die.
___Hispanic Baptists never have been at the center of a spiritual renewal, Estrada said. "I believe in the depths of my heart that God wants to renew us, to revive us."
___The eternal God is the foundation of spiritual renewal, he said. "Spiritual renewal is not just important. It is indispensable. ... God wants to revive and renew his people."
___The emphasis of renewal is on a transformed mind, and the key is having the mind of Christ, Estrada said, adding that the goal of spiritual renewal is that Christians become like Christ.
___If Hispanic Baptists allow themselves to be guided by the mind of Christ and are transformed into the image of Christ, they will be able by 2010 to meets the goals of evangelizing 1 million Hispanics in Texas, increasing church membership from 130,000 to 200,000 and increasing missions giving from $1.1 million to $2 million, Estrada said.
___Alberto Prokochuck, director of the Latin American Baptist Union, noted that Baptist groups throughout Central and South America have set a goal of tripling the number of Baptist churches in Latin America in the next 10 years.
___"We need at least 2,000 new pastors ready and trained," he said, challenging Texas Baptists to help fill that void.
___"The time has come for spiritual awakening among the Latin American countries," he declared. Prokochuck invited Hispanic Texas Baptists to participate in a preaching campaign in Paraguay Sept. 25-29, and in Argentina Nov. 13-17.
___Baptists in Texas and Mexico already have entered into an open-ended missions partnership and leadership exchange.
___At one point during the convention, Estrada called the officers of the National Baptist Convention of Mexico to the rostrum to join hands with representatives of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Woman's Missionary Union of Texas for a time of prayer.
___True spiritual renewal results in holiness, Christian character shaped by the God's character, said Gilberto Gutierrez, president of the National Baptist Convention of Mexico.
___"The Christian life is not a series of prohibitions. It is a Christ-controlled life," Gutierrez said.
___A half-dozen pastors received Cooperative Program service recognition during the convention. Each pastor leads a church that ranked first in Cooperative Program giving in a different category based on resident membership.
___Honorees were Paul Valques of Primera Iglesia Bautista Mision in Hamlin, one to 50 members; Santos Ramirez of Primera Iglesia Bautista in San Felipe, 51-100 members; Julio Guarneri of Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in Fort Worth, 101-150 members; Ananias Gonzales of Templo Bautista de South Houston, 151-250 members; Otto Arango of Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in McAllen, 251-500 members; and Mateo Rendon of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Corpus Christi, 501 or more members.
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