Texas Tidbits: Cortes named BGCT Hispanic ministries associate

The Baptist General Convention of Texas has named Gabriel Cortes Hispanic ministries strategist. Cortes will assist BGCT Director of Hispanic Ministries Rolando Rodriguez in strengthening Hispanic congregations by developing ministries and responding to needs as identified by the Hispanic Baptist Convention, churches, compañerismo’s and other partners. Cortes, who will assume his new role Aug. 25, has served as Baptist University of the Americas’ director of church and alumni relations since January. Prior to that, he was the special/executive assistant to the BUA president. Cortes also was an adjunct professor of biblical and theological studies at the school. He previously served as associate pastor of Southwayside Baptist Church in Fort Worth and pastor of Templo Bautista Emanuel in Fort Worth.

BUA honored for partnership. Communities in Schools-San Antonio, the city’s lead agency dedicated to lowering the school dropout rate, has named Baptist University of the Americas one of its Agency Partners of the Year. BUA students began a formal relationship with Kindred Elementary and South San High School three years ago, spending time as tutors and mentors. This summer, BUA hosted 45 high school students for a five-week Upward Bound program designed to prepare high school students at South San High School for success in post-secondary education. This school year, BUA is hosting the second annual Eagle Run Sept. 20, with all proceeds benefiting Communities in Schools-San Antonio.

Hendrick plans $80 million expansion project. Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene has announced plans for an $80 million expansion program. Project 2010 represents the largest expansion in the hospital’s 84-year history. Core components include a four-story patient tower with surgery facilities, labor and delivery and Hendrick Children’s Hospital; a physician office building; and a canopy-covered entrance and lobby. Additional components include a dialysis unit, a wound-care center, an infusion clinic, a two-story parking structure and an expanded lobby area. Overall, Project 2010 features 200,000 square feet of new construction and 38,000 square feet allocated to upgrades in renovated space. Hendrick plans to break ground on Project 2010 in late fall. The projected completion date for the new construction is summer of 2010, with the remaining phases related to remodeling in the existing facilities will be completed in late fall 2010.

Valley hospitals win ‘triple crown.’ Valley Baptist Medical Center -Brownsville and Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen are among only five hospitals in Texas to receive “triple crown” awards for care of coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke patients from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Out of 1,314 hospitals nationwide participating in the American Heart Association’s database for stroke care, 714 hospitals participating in the database for coronary artery disease and 502 hospitals participating for heart failure, Valley Baptist-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen were among only 29 hospitals that received awards in all three categories.