Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas set to celebrate centennial

SAN ANTONIO—This year’s gathering of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas will begin with the baptism of 100 people—one in celebration of each year of the organization’s existence.

Organizers hope that will set the tone as messengers gather for the convention’s centennial anniversary June 27-29 at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. Hispanic Baptists will embrace the theme “Yesterday, Today and Forever,” looking at how their churches have shared the hope of Christ in Texas and how they will continue to do so in the future. The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas is the largest gathering of Hispanic Baptists in the nation.

“It’s a historical moment for our Convencion celebrating our past and recognizing people who brought us to this moment, celebrating today and celebrating what God will do tomorrow,” said Convencion President Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio.

Rolando Rodriguez, director of Texas Baptists’ office of Hispanic ministries, hopes the Hispanic convention’s annual meeting is a time where believers can reflect upon their past and build upon that work to achieve even greater tasks.

“This celebration is about commitment,” he said. “I hope that we can send a message of hope, a message that says: ‘We are here. We have presence. And we mean business when it comes to sharing the gospel.’ Let’s celebrate the past, but let’s not lose focus on our main mission, and that is to reach Texas for Christ.”

Convention leaders expect at least 3,000 people to attend the fiesta, which Victor Rodriguez said will encourage Hispanic Baptists to focus on the roots of the convention—missions, evangelism and discipleship efforts. Baptists will gather from across the state to discuss ways Hispanic Baptists have shared the gospel in the past and ways they can effectively do so in the future.

Convencion President Victor Rodriguez

Through networking with each other, inspirational preaching and practical seminars, Victor Rodriguez hopes people leave the meeting inspired to share the gospel in their neighborhoods, workplaces and communities.

“We chose the name fiesta,” Victor Rodriguez said. “It represents our culture. It represents our people. It represents a spirit of celebration. I want people to leave blessed.”

During the meeting, at least 20 $1,000 college scholarships will be awarded, part of the organization’s effort to encourage Hispanic education.

Messengers also will consider a revised unification agreement, the document that outlines the working relationship between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Hispanic Baptist Convention. The original agreement was signed in 1964, and if agreed upon, this would be the first revision of the document.

The proposed new agreement updates some language issues and proposes that the president of the Hispanic convention become a voting member of Texas Baptists’ Executive Board. The president currently is a non-voting member of the board.

The document also gives the Hispanic convention the authority to raise funds outside the Cooperative Program funds it receives from Texas Baptists. This would give the Hispanic convention the ability to raise money for ministries beyond what it does through the BGCT.

“First of all, the unification agreement reminds us that we are not alone in this great mission of reaching the lost,” Rolando Rodriguez said. “We are part of a big family. BGCT has been a great partner and a family for Convencion. Second, the unification agreement will strengthen the relationship between BGCT and Convencion. That’s what it is all about: Together we can do more.”