Posted: 7/09/04
| Hispanic Baptist Convention President Alcides Guajardo introduces his wife, Frances, and officers Silva Aké of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Edinburg, third vice president; Joel Aké of Iglesia Bautista El Mesias in Dallas, secretary; Robert Rodriguez of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Harlingen, second vice president; and Martin Ortega of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Midland, first vice president, pictured with his wife, Francisca. |
Hispanic Texas Baptist president
issues call for cooperation
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND–The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas needs to cooperate with other Baptist groups and institutions to accomplish God's will in Texas and around the world, the group's president told its annual meeting.
Alcides Guajardo called the convention to emulate the Trinity and cooperate with other conventions and institutions to expand God's kingdom on earth. The biblical model of cooperation is needed to “accomplish God's plan.”
He pointed to several groups looking for help from the Hispanic convention. Texas needs 3,000 Hispanic Baptist churches, but there are just a few more than 1,200. Spain needs more churches. Central and South America have “urgent needs.” The Baptist University of the Americas needs support.
“We cannot do it ourselves,” he said. “No one can do it alone. There are millions in our state that need to be evangelized.”
Guajardo lauded Hispanics for increasing their giving through the Baptist General Convention of Texas Cooperative Program budget, which sends money to ministries in Texas and throughout the world. But he noted many churches still need to give.
That money leads to saved souls and transformed lives, the president said. Some of the people in the convention center converted because of ministries supported by the Cooperative Program budget or the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.
Hispanics see the results of the giving. They also must give, Guajardo stressed.
“You know the needs and how many people ask us for help,” he said.
Guajardo called the convention to pray, asking God to help them see where ministry is needed. “We need to communicate to him and ask him to open our hearts,” he said.
In other business, the convention honored Buckner Baptist Benevolences for 125 years of ministry.
The convention also recognized three students who were awarded college scholarships: Sara Aké of Iglesia Bautista El Mesias in Dallas, Clara Ann Herrera of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Eldorado and Stacey Melendez of Iglesia Bautista Amistad in Waco.
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