HOUSTON—More than 300 Hispanic Texas Baptists prayed, worshipped and enjoyed fellowship in their heart language of Spanish, celebrating what God has done in and through them during the past year.

The Hispanic Baptist Fellowship met the night before the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting to rejoice in what God is doing in Hispanic churches through Texas Hope 2010 and to rally the group to continue their efforts in reaching the lost through praying, caring and sharing.

Martin Ortega, pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Midland, and Rolando Rodriguez, director of Hispanic ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, participate in a Hispanic Baptist Fellowship rally prior to Texas Baptists’ annual meeting.

Texas Hope 2010 is an effort by Texas Baptists to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010 so each person can respond to the gospel in his or her own culture and language. The meeting also was about looking beyond Easter 2010 to find ways to disciple the new believers.

“We are offering a challenge to Hispanic churches in Texas, especially in the Houston area, to start a focus on follow-up for Texas Hope 2010,” said Rolando Rodriguez, director of Texas Baptists’ Hispanic ministries.

To promote the three aspects of Texas Hope 2010, Rodriguez spoke on prayer, Martin Ortega, pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Midland, preached on caring and Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio and president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, delivered a message about sharing.

The key to making a difference through prayer comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14, Rodriguez said. If God’s people will humble themselves, pray and seek his face, then God will make a difference in their lives and in Texas, he said.

“We need to pray that our eyes will be opened so we can do the works of God,” Rodriguez said. “What difference are you making because you pray?”

When speaking on care, Ortega noted Mark 1:21-45, insisting Hispanic Baptists must have a complete commitment to proclaiming and living out the mission of Christ—going to the poor, blind and oppressed.

With Jesus, the commitment to caring includes liberation, treatment of the whole person and restoration of life, Ortega said.

Participants in a Hispanic Baptist Fellowship gathering prior to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Houston join in worship. (PHOTOS/Kaitlin Chapman/Texas Baptist Communications)

Rodriguez spoke about the Texas Hope 2010 compact discs that contain the Gospel of John in English and Spanish, as well as an option to download the New Testament in more than 300 languages.

Attendees were en-couraged to purchase 10 CDs each at the end of the meeting to distribute in their cities and to spread the Scripture in a way that others can understand and use it.

The group has held the fellowship meeting the night before the start of Texas Baptists’ annual meeting for the last few years as a way to include the group in the big picture of Texas Baptists’ mission and ministry efforts, Rodriguez said.   

“We wanted to make sure we have a celebration along with BGCT annual meeting to send a message that we are the BGCT,” Lopez said. “We are not just a part, but we are the BGCT.”

The meeting also focused on promoting the centennial celebration of Convencion, the Hispanic Baptist Convention’s annual meeting that will take place in June 2010. BGCT Executive Director Randel Everett told the rally he is looking ahead to next year’s BGCT annual meeting in McAllen as part of the centennial celebration.

“I believe that it is important that we are having annual meeting in McAllen during the centennial year for Convencion,” he said. “I believe that God will pour out his Spirit on this and that great things will happen in the Valley.”

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