tamez_51903

Posted: 5/19/03

Tamez nominated for Convencion

By Marv Knox

Editor

FORT WORTH — David Tamez, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Tyler since 1997, will be nominated as president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas when it meets in San Antonio next month.

Tamez will strengthen both the Hispanic Baptist Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas as they launch a joint missions partnership with Baptists in Mexico, predicted Rudy Camacho, a Fort Worth layman and Texas Baptist leader who plans to nominate him.

“David Tamez is a leader among Hispanic Baptists” who has taught seminary, served successfully as pastor and started several congregations, said Camacho, immediate past president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and current first vice president of the BGCT.

“He would move us in the right direction as we expand our ministry into Mexico and partner with Mexican Baptist Convention officers and others,” Camacho said.

Noting Tamez has taught seminary in Mexico and frequently travels to Latin America to train ministers, Camacho said, “He will be an asset, because he already knows so many pastors.”

Tamez has been professor of pastoral ministries at Seminario Teologico Bautista Mexicana, as well as director of the Christian education department and teacher at the Instituto Evangelistico de Mexico, both in Mexico. He has led pastor-training conferences in Argentina, Cuba, Honduras, Israel, Mexico, Nicaragua and Spain.

“He was my pastor, and I know he is sound doctrinally–a solid preacher and teacher,” Camacho said. As a pastor, Tamez has started five mission congregations in Mexico, he added.

Tamez has led churches where he has been pastor–in Fort Worth as well as Tyler–to be strong supporters of the BGCT and contributors to its Cooperative Program unified budget, Camacho said.

“David has demonstrated leadership in Hispanic Baptist Convention committees,” Camacho said. “He will take us in the right direction as we continue what (current HBC President) Antonio Estrada has started. The partnership with Mexico will be very important.”

Tamez said he is not seeking the presidency but will feel blessed to serve if elected.

“I am not looking for this, but I am looking to do the will of God, and if this is his will, I am available to serve in this position,” he said. “I believe in a sovereign God, and my life and ministry are in his hands.”

As president, Tamez would focus on his longtime calling to train and equip pastors for ministry, he said.

“I have a passion for pastors, and since the beginning of my ministry, the Lord has used me to minister with pastors,” he said. “Our convention has a vision to partner with the Mexican Baptist Convention and train pastors. … One of the strongest needs is to develop the leadership, to train the pastors in order to lead the people.”

He praised the work of two BGCT leaders–Lorenzo Peña, coordinator of associational missions and administration, and Jimmy Garcia, director of the office of Hispanic work. He also praised Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio and its president, Albert Reyes.

One of his goals would be to help unify Hispanic Baptists, Tamez said.

“Our churches are struggling with problems, and one of the main problems I can see is unity,” he explained. “We need to learn to work together for the sake of the gospel. If we want to impact our communities, state and the uttermost parts of the world, we need to learn to work together to accomplish goals.”

Tamez, 48, and his wife, Ruth, have three children, Elizabeth, Pedro and Josué.

He is a graduate of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Liverpool in England and Trinity Theological Seminary in Indiana.

He has been a missions promoter for Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth and president of the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship in Fort Worth and the East Texas Hispanic Baptist Fellowship.