Hispanic Texas Baptists braved a bitter Arctic front to enjoy warm fellowship at their annual rally, held at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary prior to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting.
Church planting consultant and evangelist Roland Lopez preached from Acts 8:26-35 and used Philip the disciple as a model of how to “live the difference.”
Church planting consultant and evangelist Roland Lopez preached from Acts 8:26-35 during the Hispanic rally at Truett Theological Seminary. (Photo: Eric Guel/BGCT)The New Testament describes Philip as sensitive to the Holy Spirit, Lopez noted. When an angel came to Philip to instruct him travel south, Philip knew the message came from God, and he obeyed.
“If we’re to live the difference, then we ought to be people who identify the voice of our Lord,” Lopez said.
Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from Isaiah and “searching for the truth.” Because Philip was sensitive to the Holy Spirit, he followed God’s leadership and approached the eunuch’s chariot, creating an opportunity to interpret the Scriptures for the eunuch and teach him.
So, the second key to living the difference is “knowing the word of God and desiring to share that difference with others,” he said.
Preach the simple gospel
Finally, in order to live the difference, Christians must preach the simple gospel message, Lopez added.
“If we’re going to live the difference, then out of our mouths—out of our hearts—should come a very simple message we can share, which makes the difference,” he said.
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Hispanic Baptists learned about a recent successful experiment in delivering the gospel to unreached families in Waco. Hispanic churches in Waco partnered with Texas Baptists to sponsor Fiesta Familiar, a youth soccer tournament and family-friendly block party. The event attracted more than 700 people and resulted in more than 40 professions of faith in Christ. People who accepted Christ were connected to churches where they could be taught about the Christian faith.
Fiesta Familiar
“It takes a church of the city to pastor the city,” said Mario Sandoval, pastor of Iglesia Maranatha in Waco, as he described the community’s receptivity to Fiesta Familar.
Because of the Waco event’s positive results, 23 Baptist churches in Laredo are planning their own version of Fiesta Familiar to take place this month.
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