Convencion president to be nominated for BGCT presidency

SAN ANTONIO—Minutes after Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas President Victor Rodriguez adjourned the Convencion’s centennial meeting, Ellis Orozco announced his intention to nominate Rodriguez for president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas at the Nov. 8-9 annual meeting in McAllen.

“I know Victor Rodriguez to be one of those rare leaders who can relate to people of all ages, backgrounds and heritages,” said Orozco, pastor of First Baptist Church in Richardson.

With gavel in hand, Victor Rodriguez presided at the centennial gathering of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas. Rodriguez, who is beginning the second year of his two-year term as Convencion president, will be nominated for Baptist General Convention of Texas president in November. (PHOTO/BGCT)

The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas elected Rodriguez to a two-year term as president last year. He is a second-generation Convencion president, following in the footsteps of his father, Manuel.

Rodriguez has served 12 years as pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio, which Orozco described as “a multigenerational church in one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Texas.”

“Victor Rodriguez is just the kind of leader I want to follow,” he continued. “I am proud to call him my brother in Christ, my colleague and my friend.”

Orozco cited three primary reasons for nominating Rodriguez:

• Passion for evangelism. “He is a personal soul-winner whom God has used to build a church of personal soul-winners,” he said. South San Filadelfia Baptist Church has baptized an average 120 new Christians each of the last seven years, Orozco noted.

• Community impact. “The church he leads has been a shining example of a Christian body that is able to move outside its four walls to make an impressive impact on its community,” he said. He cited the food pantry, medical clinic, Head Start program, computer learning center, English-as-a-Second-Language classes and T-ball league sponsored by South San Filadelfia as ways the congregation reaches its community.

• Concern for the poor. Rodriguez “has a heart for the poor, the underprivileged and the underserved,” Orozco said. “Every day of the week, Victor Rodriguez and the church he leads does something to help the poor. That’s the kind of leader I want for Texas Baptists.”

Rodriguez applauded the way BGCT Executive Director Randel Everett has challenged Texas Baptists to share the gospel, and he hopes to continue that emphasis if elected BGCT president.

“I believe we need to get back to evangelism,” he said. “It’s a different Texas that we face today. But the solution is still Jesus.”

Noting the spirit of celebration and unity that characterized the Conven-cion’s centennial meeting, Rodriguez expressed his desire to “take it to the next level” and see all Texas Baptists united around shared values reflected in a commitment to evangelism, missions, church starting and community ministry.

In addition to his service as president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, Rodriguez has served on a variety of committees with the BGCT and San Antonio Baptist Association.

Rodriguez, a native of Odessa, is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and is working on a master’s degree from Wayland Baptist University.

He and his wife, Olga, have three sons—Victor, Fernando and Manuel.