hispanic_convention_71403

Posted: 7/11/03

Hispanic Convention ratifies mission
partnership to start 400 churches

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas at its annual meeting approved a strategic missions alliance with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to help start at least 400 Hispanic churches in the United States by 2010.

Four days later, the partnership was affirmed by participants in the CBF general assembly in Charlotte, N.C.

To achieve the goal of baptizing 10,000 new Hispanic Christians in less than eight years, the CBF and the convention also agreed to help establish compañerismos–regional fellowships–throughout the nation to train, equip and encourage church leaders.

More than 2,100 people, including 945 registered messengers, attended the 93rd annual meeting of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas June 22-24 in San Antonio. Antonio Estrada, who completed his term as president of the convention, told messengers their officers and strategic planning committee had endorsed the cooperative agreement with the CBF.

“I believe this is God's will,” Estrada told the convention, adding that the presidents of the compañerismos across Texas also had expressed support for the proposal.

However, some messengers maintained that the missions alliance had not been adequately communicated to rank-and-file church members around the state. Roland Lopez, pastor of Northwest Hispanic Baptist Church of San Antonio, made a motion that the matter be tabled for study until the 2004 convention. While Lopez expressed his support for church starting, he said, “I sincerely believe we need more time to know without a doubt what we're getting into.”

Rudy Camacho from Iglesia Bautista Genesis in Fort Worth, past president of the convention, challenged messengers to consider the national challenge of reaching Hispanics with the gospel. “This is an opportunity to reach out. We must not let this opportunity pass,” he said.

At least one messenger also raised questions about the role of Hispanic Baptist Theological School of San Antonio in the agreement. As originally proposed, the covenant was to be a three-way agreement between the Hispanic Convention, CBF and HBTS, with a goal of enlisting and training 400 Hispanic Baptist pastors by 2010.

After the convention, Albert Reyes, president of the school, clarified that the covenant approved by messengers to the Hispanic Baptist Convention was strictly between the convention and the CBF. At this point, the school's trustees have not approved any covenant.

“We are interested in pursuing a cooperative agreement with the CBF in the future, and I certainly hope the details of that agreement will be worked out,” Reyes said.

Messengers defeated the motion to table by about a 2-to-1 margin and then passed the original proposal regarding the alliance with the CBF.

“This will be my legacy,” said Estrada, pastor of the South Main Hispanic Baptist Church of Houston, immediately after the vote. “I challenge you in the name of Jesus to establish 400 new churches all over the United States.”

CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal, who publicly signed the “covenant” with the Hispanic Baptist Convention, commended the convention for its open exchange of different views and for the amicable spirit of the discussion.

“We at the CBF came to the Hispanic Baptist Convention because we needed your help,” he said. “We wanted a partnership to reach people for Christ. We pledge to you that we will be good partners, worthy partners, in this great and bold enterprise.”

Estrada and Vestal also publicly signed the agreement during the CBF general assembly, where participants rose in a standing ovation.

New officers of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas are President Alcides Guajardo, retired home missionary and pastor from Beeville; First vice President Angel Vela of Iglesia Bautista Westway of El Paso; Second Vice President Manuel Rios from Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario in San Antonio; Third Vice President Micaela Camacho of Iglesia Bautista Genesis in Fort Worth; and Secretary Martin Ortega of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Midland.

In other business, the Hispanic Baptist Convention also elected Alcides Guajardo, a former home missionary and retired pastor, as its new president.

Messengers chose Guajardo from among a field of four nominees that also included Baldemar Borrego of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Esperanza of Wichita Falls, Angel Vela of Iglesia Bautista Westway of El Paso and David Tamez of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Tyler. In a runoff race, Guajardo drew 239 votes, compared to 188 for Borrego.

Messengers re-elected Vela by acclamation as first vice president. They also re-elected Manuel Rios from Iglesia Bautista Monte Calvario in San Antonio as second vice president and Micaela Camacho of Iglesia Bautista Genesis in Fort Worth as third vice president.

Martin Ortega of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Midland was elected secretary, succeeding Rolando Rodriguez of Iglesia Bautista Hampton Place in Dallas.

Messengers also approved a resolution calling on members of the United States Congress to approve legislation correcting a “broken” immigration system.

Roland Lopez of San Antonio noted that the current system often leads to abuse, exploitation, discrimination and even death, noting the recent instances of undocumented aliens who died of heat exhaustion in crowded 18-wheelers.

Lopez, who is pastor of a church that includes people of nine Latin American nationalities, emphasized the biblical basis for churches to minister to “aliens” and “strangers” who come seeking freedom and prosperity.

“It is not a violation of federal or state law to provide ministry to undocumented immigrants,” he noted.

In his final presidential message, Estrada elaborated on the convention theme, “Jesus Christ: Foundation for the Family.”

Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation for proper instruction within the family, as well as the foundation for right relationships, Estrada said.

“Whatever we plant in the hearts of our children, sooner or later we will harvest,” he said. “As parents, God has given us a treasure in the lives of our children.”

The 2004 meeting of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas will be June 23-26 at South Padre Island.