Posted: 11/12/04

Churches can minister to Alzheimer's caregivers, family

By Penny McCulloch

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Gospels record Jesus' promise never to leave or forsake those who follow him–and that includes people with Alzheimer's disease, said Wesley Wells, administrator of Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center in San Angelo

Wells led a workshop titled “Alzheimer's Disease: How to Understand and Endure the Arduous Journey” during the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session.

Focusing on the compassionate acceptance of individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's, Wells outlined practical steps for living with these loved ones.

“Alzheimer's is known as 'the long goodbye,' so it's important to plan for a long race and to plan for pain,” he said. Comparing the journey to a marathon, Wells encouraged caregivers to read all they can, get a team so they won't be alone, find other people who are in similar circumstances, consult medical experts, pray with and without a prayer partner, and journal honest feelings.

He also suggested taking breaks by letting others take care of the loved one, having an emergency plan, changing the environment at home to make it safer, learning to communicate on the loved one's level (redirect, reminisce, validate and never argue), sharing activities, and building self esteem by thanking them for doing things.

Wells observed that few churches are doing very much to address the needs of Alzheimer's patients and those who love them. He listed educational seminars, support groups, respite providers and prayer support as potential starting places to meet this looming epidemic.

For more information about Alzheimer's disease, visit www.alz.org, e-mail info@alz.org or call 800-272-3900.

Posted: 11/12/04

'Nitty-gritty' work of BGCT reorganization ahead, leaders say

By Marv Knox

Editor

SAN ANTONIO–An initial vote on constitutional revision put the Baptist General Convention of Texas “only partway down the road” toward the BGCT's most significant reorganization in almost five decades, convention leaders said.

Messengers to the BGCT annual meeting in San Antonio approved the first reading of constitutional amendments to reduce the size of the convention's Executive Board by more than half and streamline the convention's decision-making structure.

But to take effect, the amendments must be approved by messengers to next year's meeting, BGCT President Ken Hall said.

And in the meantime, decisions regarding bylaws and procedures that comprise the “nitty-gritty” of the reorganization will be worked out publicly among Texas Baptists, he added.

Hall addressed two question-and-answer meetings before messengers to the annual session voted to affirm the constitutional changes.

Two other primary architects of the reorganization–BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade and Wesley Shotwell, chairman of the group that drafted the governance proposals–also discussed the changes with several hundred messengers.

The proposed reorganization would reduce the size of the Executive Board from 234 to 90 members.

It also would eliminate two coordinating boards, two commissions and the convention's Administrative Committee and assign their responsibilities to new Executive Board committees.

Several participants expressed concern that Texas Baptists–particularly those who live in West Texas and small towns–will lose representation on the BGCT Executive Board. Others said they were alarmed that all the BGCT's 117 associations no longer would be represented on the board.

Still others said the size of the new sectors from which Executive Board representation will be selected prohibit the board members from adequately representing all the churches of their regions.

Acknowledging those concerns, Hall stressed the reason for considering change.

Under the current structure, the Executive Board is responsible for major convention decisions but is not able to hold the convention's administration and other convention organizations accountable, he explained.

And the Executive Board's mammoth size works against good governance, he noted.

“The question is: What is a good size for a governing board?” he added, noting many organizational experts recommend the size should be much smaller than 90.

“Two hundred thirty-four people is more than we have in the state legislature,” he observed.

Good polity demands a governing board be small enough that it can be involved in and knowledgeable about the organization's governance issues and know the executive director well, he said.

Pointing to Buckner Baptist Benevolences, which he heads as president and which has a 27-member board, Hall said: “One of the strengths of our board is that I know my board members and they know me. They hold me accountable.”

The tension of BGCT representation should not be placed upon the Executive Board, he said.

“Obviously, there will be some people who feel under-represented, but it's presumptuous to presuppose representation on the Executive Board. Representation takes place at the BGCT annual meeting,” he said. “The Executive Board is accountable, responsible to the convention. If it is not representative, vote your convictions at the annual meeting.

“The way (governance) is done now is honorable, but it's just not as effective as it could be and should be. … We should have accountability in case something goes wrong.”

Wade said he believes the reorganized structure can fairly represent Texas Baptists.

“Our desire is for everybody to be involved–to hear everybody,” he said, insisting that can be possible through a fairly selected smaller Executive Board.

Besides, proportionate representation doesn't change tremendously from the current system to the proposed system, he added.

For example, he pointed to the Panhandle, South Plains and West Texas regions, which would account for three sectors in the new structure. Together, they would be represented by 10 percent of a 90-member board, whereas now they are represented by 11.4 percent of the current board.

“You're talking about giving up less than 2 percent of the board,” he said.

As participants described their worries that the process is moving too fast and should be delayed, Hall said the first vote on the constitutional change places the convention “only partway down the road” toward overall reorganization.

“We need to take care of the constitution so we can deal with the nitty-gritty pieces of the reorganization,” he said.

That includes a final draft of the sector map, which will determine the geographical dimensions of representation on a new Executive Board; bylaws, which will specifically determine how the decision-making processes will work; and implementation, which will include such details as staff deployment and budgeting.

All of these details will be worked out in the coming year, Hall said, noting they will be decided in conjunction with Texas Baptists representing all kinds of constituencies across the state.

Noting Texas Baptists from rural areas are concerned about losing representation, Hall said he appreciated their concern. However, he said disproportionate representation, which does not account for the cities, "where most of our members live," is not fair to the convention.

Shotwell noted the proposed changes are proactive, placing the convention in a posture to lead change.

“We do not want to allow the things around us to determine how we proceed,” he urged.

Responding to another appeal that small churches will receive less representation, “and they already feel they have no relationship to the BGCT,” Hall contended worrying about the composition of the Executive Board is not the correct approach.

"My bias is that we're not going to get there (to strong relationships with the churches) through governance," he said. "We're going to get there through getting our staff closer to the churches. We need a new staff structure, and we need a new governance structure to hold the staff accountable to the churches and deliver ministries to them.

“We must look at our state. If we want to reach Texas for Christ, we need to be sensitive to where the population is, who Texas is. What we're doing now is not working. We're losing ground. …

“If you postpone (the decision), you're talking about 2006, maybe 2007, before implementation,” he added. “We live in a changing state; we are a changing convention. …

“Make a step of faith in some of us who are working hard. You'll have more to see in the coming year. And if you don't like it then, you can vote it down next year.”

Posted: 11/12/04

BGCT adopts $47.3 million budget for 2005

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session approved a $47.3 million budget for 2005.

The fiscal plan is an increase of $1.5 million over the 2004 budget.

More than $40.5 million is meant to come through the BGCT Cooperative Program. The remainder is to come through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, endowment income, allocated funds, fees and other sources.

David Nabors, BGCT chief financial officer, said he expects the convention to receive about 98 percent of its 2004 budget.

Bob Fowler, chairman of the BGCT Administrative Committee, said funds may have to be shuffled to accommodate the convention's restructuring efforts.

The BGCT-suggested offering plan continues giving 79 percent of funds to Texas Baptist ministries and 21 percent of receipts to worldwide causes. Each Texas Baptist church is free to give as it chooses.

The Texas Worldwide Initiatives giving option now includes the Baptist World Alliance, which was defunded by the Southern Baptist Convention this year.

Other Texas-funded worldwide ministries include the WorldconneX missions network, ongoing Mexico mission work, Texas Partnerships Resource Center and other international efforts.

BGCT messengers make their views known by a show-of-ballot vote during the annual session in San Antonio.

Posted: 11/12/04

Texas Baptist can play pivotal role among
Baptists worldwide, BWA official maintains

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

SAN ANTONIO–Texas Baptists can play a pivotal role among Baptists worldwide, a Baptist World Alliance representative told participants at the annual Texas Baptists Committed Breakfast.

“Texas could be one of the centers of Baptist life around the world, if you rise to the challenge,” said Paul Montacute, director of the Baptist World Aid relief and development agency.

Texas Baptists can interpret American culture and Baptists in the United States to other Baptists around the globe, he said.

“You can explain to Baptists brothers around the world what is happening and why it is happening,” he said.

Alluding to the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to withdraw its membership and money from the Baptist World Alliance, Montacute added, “The rumors of the demise of the Baptist World Alliance are greatly exaggerated.”

The Baptist World Alliance–representing churches from 211 member bodies worldwide–will continue to encourage missions and evangelism, speak out for human rights and religious liberty, and provide emergency relief and community development in some of the world's poorest areas, he said.

“We need to build bridges around the world between the rich and the poor,” he said.

BWA stands not only for Baptist World Alliance, but also for its commitment to belief, witness and action, he noted.

Montacute pointed to the dedication of Baptist leaders in Bangladesh who recently were killed by a Muslim mob and of Georgian Baptist leaders killed in Eastern Europe.

They not only exemplify the depth of Baptists' belief and commitment, but also underscore the need of to stand up for religious liberty and human rights internationally, he observed.

In terms of witness, Montacute mentioned a “Living Waters” evangelism initiative Baptist World Alliance is launching, as well as the faithful day-to-day witness of everyday Christians living in places where sharing their faith can be difficult and even dangerous.

As an example of action, he noted Baptist World Aid efforts to provide relief in the Grand Caymans after a hurricane left 5,000 people homeless and of ongoing ministry to AIDS orphans in Africa.

Responding to Southern Baptist allegations that Baptist World Aid has funded “questionable enterprises” around the world, Montacute said: “If feeding and providing shelter to refugees in Rwanda is questionable, we are guilty. …

“If providing Bibles to Baptists in Cuba is questionable, we are guilty. …

“If standing up for the downtrodden is questionable, we are guilty. … And I'm proud of it, too.”

Posted: 11/12/04

Cross Over San Antonio events yield commitments to Christ

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–San Antonio Baptists reflected the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting theme of “Celebrando la Familia de Dios–Celebrating the Family of God” as they shared their faith with non-Christians across the city leading up to the gathering.

Nearly 70 churches from a variety of cultures and representing different ethnic groups put together block parties and alternative Halloween events as part of Cross Over San Antonio, a joint effort between the BGCT and San Antonio Baptist Association.

The BGCT Inner City Evangelism Team also traversed the city handing out tracts and Bibles and sharing their faith. More than 260 faith decisions were made during Cross Over-related efforts.

Members of the Christian Wrestling Federation competed in a wrestling match and then shared their faith with the audience.Eric GuelSan Antonio Baptists shared their faith with non-Christians across the city in often-innovative ways. Some of the largest events were block parties that featured members of the Christian Wrestling Federation. (Eric Guel Photos)

Rob Rolison, multihousing ministries facilitator for San Antonio Baptist Association, said Cross Over gave area churches another chance to follow Christ. Though Christians dressed differently and came from different cultures, they cooperated beautifully as "brothers and sisters in Christ," he noted.

“Evangelism is highly important, because we are commanded to do it, and it gives us the opportunity to share the love of Jesus that's in us.”

The effort's two largest events were block parties that included members of the Christian Wrestling Federation, who wrestled several matches and then delivered a gospel presentation.

Wayne Shuffield, BGCT local church evangelism consultant, said 59 of the participating congregations also are using Operation Multiplication, an individual discipleship method that will enable Texas Baptists to connect new believers to churches.

“The plain truth of the Great Commission is the heart and soul of Texas Baptists,” he said. “San Antonio-area churches have demonstrated once again the passion for keeping the main thing the plain thing–sharing Christ's love and presence with everyone with the goal of making disciples for Christ.”

Rolison hopes this effort jump-starts further evangelistic efforts throughout San Antonio.

“I hope not only that souls are saved, but churches will follow up and gain enthusiasm to do evangelism year-round,” he said.

Posted: 11/12/04

Hold on until God provides a 'second
wind' for ministry, Dailey preaches

By Teresa Young

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–“I know someone today is in the valley, but I've come to tell you not to give up. Your second wind is coming,” Jerry Dailey, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio, promised during the convention sermon at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session Nov. 9.

Dailey pointed to the Old Testament story in which God told the prophet Ezekiel to resurrect dry bones strewn across a valley.

And he encouraged Texas Baptists to hold firm to God during trying times of ministry and allow God to bring about a second wind in their lives.

Jerry Dailey, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio, preaches the BGCT convention sermon.

Dailey, president of the Texas Baptist African American Fellowship, described how Olympic track and field athletes know well the benefit of a second wind in completing their races.

“Many of us here this day are not long-distance runners; we've not been on the field,” Dailey said. “At times, we feel we're about burned out, and when our feet almost slip, there is this new burst of energy that we can't explain, but we say we've caught our second wind.”

Dailey cited a “cultural and moral Armageddon” in society and the stronghold of biblical principles as a reason for Christians to turn to God for a second wind in fighting their spiritual battles.

He also encouraged Texas Baptists not to avoid the valleys–or the low times–even though they represent challenges.

God “wants to teach us that we can't stay on the mountain all the time,” he declared.

“Ministry does not take place on the mountain. Ministry takes place in the valley.

“I'm afraid too many of us are afraid to go where the bones are. But only when you find out the needs of the house, then the Lord can help you move them from where they are to where he wants them to be.”

Christians should practice thanksgiving in every situation, whether on the mountain or in the valley, and they should be expressive in thanks, Dailey urged.

“Many go to church and act like God hasn't done anything for us,” he said.

“But if God's been good to you, you ought to show some sign. If he put runnin' into your feet or clappin' into your hands, you ought to show some sign.”

The Texas Baptist family needs to look to God for his provision and trust his power, Dailey concluded.

“I've come to ask you: Can these bones live? Sometimes you have to say: 'I don't understand it, but God knows it. I don't know how he works it out, but he does.'

“There's power in the word, and God's word brings restoration, order and peace that passes understanding. God can bring the bones together.”

Posted: 11/12/04

Texas Baptists look to future, celebrate diversity

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Baptist General Convention of Texas is primed for a bright future in a changing state, according to its leadership.

The convention has positioned itself to minister in a state where the Baptist environment is settling and residents are becoming more diverse, said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade, outgoing President Ken Hall and new President Albert Reyes.

At its annual meeting in San Antonio Nov. 8-9, the convention embraced its diverse constituency like never before.

Reyes became the first non-Anglo BGCT president. This past year, he and African-American Pastor Dennis Young served as convention vice presidents and were the first two ethnic minorities to be officers together in the same year. The officers appointed ethnic minorities as chairpersons of six committees.

In San Antonio, African-American Pastor Michael Bell was elected first vice president alongside Reyes.

African-American, Anglo and Hispanic voices spoke out when the convention discussed its business during the annual meeting in San Antonio. About 2,200 of the 5,700 BGCT churches are non-Anglo congregations.

“I don't think there's any question that as we project the future, we have to be inclusive,” Hall said during a news conference at the annual meeting.

Hall, Reyes and Wade all indicated they want the increased inclusion of ethnic minorities to continue, as do those minorities. Each official spoke of a desire to increase the number of ethnic minorities on the BGCT Executive Board.

“I sense as we as Texas Baptists are becoming aware that the world around us is changing; we are changing,” Reyes said.

For the first time in recent history, the BGCT appears to have made it through the year without a major scrape with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Wade observed, noting Texas Baptists appear squarely behind their leaders.

The convention “is looking to the future,” he stressed. “We are not fighting any more old battles. It is a historic day.”

Reyes described the convention as a family. Although Texas Baptists disagree at times, they come together at the end of discussions. The group's ability to rally around its members is one of its strengths.

“It's been a very good day,” Hall said after messengers made an initial vote to overhaul the convention's structure. “We Baptists do our business best in the open.”

Each leader said he hoped to build on the strength of the convention as restructuring begins.

The BGCT appears healthier than in recent years, but Wade, Hall and Reyes said they look for God to use Texas Baptists in even mightier ways in the future.

“We are an extraordinary people gifted with unbelievable resources,” Hall said.

Posted: 11/12/04

'Covenant of trust' for Baptist ministers deals with ethics

By Craig Bird

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Ethical failures by Christians are more about breaking trust and shattering relationships than simply breaking rules, Texas Baptist leaders believe.

That is why, two years after messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting asked for a code of ethics for Baptist ministers, they got a “Covenant of Trust” instead, explained Phil Christopher, chairman of the committee that drafted the covenant.

“We tried to be faithful to the intent and spirit of the 2002 motion,” Christopher, pastor of First Baptist Church in Abilene, told participants in a ministerial ethics breakout session at the BGCT annual meeting.

“We spent a lot of time talking about 'code' versus 'covenant,' and the consensus was that 'covenant' is more consistent with the Baptist way of thinking about things,” he noted.

Some Texas Baptists might have expected “a checklist of thou-shalt-nots,” added committee member Bill Tillman, who teaches ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology.

“That is appropriate in the business world, where the main concern is to control external behavior. But the biblical model is about dealing with the spiritual and internal failures that cause the 'bad' actions.”

The committee's 29-page report, “Ministerial Ethics: A Covenant of Trust” is not a ready-made, one-size-fits-all document, Christopher stressed.

“We have tried to identify the theological, biblical, behavioral and practical issues that need to be considered,” he said. “Any congregation can take this material and find enough to begin the conversation to develop what is appropriate for their situation.

“Some folks may think 'covenant' is too 'churchy' a term, but we feel it is a most appropriate term, because we approach this from a 'churchy' perspective, since ethical failure within the church destroys the church. And as a pastor, I am different from a doctor or a lawyer, because I don't have clients, and the personnel committee is a lot more than just my boss.”

The committee also heavily stressed that, while the title speaks to ministers, the principles apply to all Christians.

The doctrine of the priesthood of the believer logically makes all Baptist believers ministers, and the agreement between professional/paid staff and the congregation entails responsibilities that run both ways, they emphasized.

“Following Jesus does not mean one thing for vocational ministers and something less for laity,” Christopher said.

The report includes three subsections–ministerial integrity, the stewardship of power and the biblical concept of covenant, as well as supporting sections on “call,” relationships, stewardship of time, health, economic responsibilities, sexual conduct and community involvement.

A three-page summary reframes the main points and “could be handed out to a personnel committee or a group of deacons because we know not too many people will read all 29-pages,” Tillman said.

“We want very much for this to be something useful and not just another report that never makes a difference.”

Ideally, the resulting covenant “will guard against moral failures and help restore relationships when moral failures occur,” Christopher added.

Trust is the lynchpin of the report, because Christian fellowship is based on being able to trust each other, he said.

“People can disagree with an application I draw from Scripture, and we can split our votes on how to allocate the budget and still be the church,” Christopher said.

“But if I do something that breaks trust so they can't have confidence in my integrity, we have failed.”

The covenant still resonates with “code-type language,” just as the Old Testament talks of God's covenants with Israel that resulted in specific standards of behavior. The summary has a suggested eight-point “pledge” from the minister and a suggested eight-point list of responsibilities for the church.

“I recently went with a member of my church to his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to celebrate his 25th anniversary of being sober, and what I experienced there made me want to bring it back to my church,” Christopher concluded.

“And I made a connection between their 12-step program and what this committee has been working on. I was particularly struck by the confession that abuse of alcohol resulted in their lives getting out of control. They don't go into specifics about how that loss of control worked out. They are confessing in a covenant situation.”

Posted: 11/12/04

Posted: 11/12/04

To battling Baptists, BGCT president says: 'Here's a rose'

By Teresa Young

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Baptist General Convention of Texas President Ken Hall worked his way down a list of Baptists on different sides of various issues in his address to the convention's annual session. And as he did, he symbolically offered a long-stemmed rose to each as a peacemaking gesture.

In his president's address, Hall urged Texas Baptists to “be good” in speech and focus on good when relating to each other and the world.

Basing his sermon on Titus 3:1-11, Hall spoke of the Apostle Paul's admonition to the church in Crete to speak kindly of others, be peaceable and remember the righteousness they have received from Christ, avoiding anyone who seeks to divide the body.

“We must be careful to do good works on behalf of successful people around us as well as those in need,” Hall said, admonishing Texas Baptists to speak positively. “I think we've lost something in our generation in how we speak about each other and to each other. The recent political races were an example … and this speech has invaded our churches and our denomination.”

Hall said the problem of backbiting and speaking hatefully about others within the denomination and outside is universal across Christianity, and that doing good involves speaking as Christ would speak.

Hall also encouraged Baptists to focus on the good and not on “useless things,” including foolish disputes and strivings of the law as Paul addressed to the church in Crete.

“Are we focusing on useless things and spending too much time on our comfort rather than helping comfort others in need?” Hall asked. “We say we want to be inclusive, but some of the people we intend to include have to wait their turn.”

Hall urged setting aside those things in order to focus on the Great Commission.

“The world is too broken, and people are too lost for us to focus on useless things,” he said, urging convention participants also to remember God's goodness and humanities “borrowed” righteousness.

“We can only be good because God is good,” Hall said. “We have a great foundation, but it's easy to forget God's goodness at times. It's easy to forget that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. But it's also wrong to think that the past was our best time ever.”

Hall recalled how R.C. Buckner presided at 19 BGCT sessions with a bouquet of roses instead of a gavel, symbolic of his peacemaking spirit.

Lifting roses as symbols of peace to Baptists on different sides of varied issues, Hall closed his message by asking for unity among Texas Baptists.

“To those who feel we should ever be vigilant to guard against creeping fundamentalism, watch your rhetoric,” he said. “You don't have to be mean-spirited as you advocate for Baptist principles. Here's a rose.”

He reminded Texas Baptists “not everyone who is strongly conservative is a fundamentalist,” and he urged Texas Baptists to “avoid tactics and strategies that divide us and make us look like the people we say we aren't.”

At the same time, he defended moderate leaders David Currie of Texas Baptists Committed and Daniel Vestal of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, saying to those who misrepresent the Fellowship's stand on moral issues, “Shame on you.”

He also directed a pastoral word to feuding supporters and opponents of Baylor University's current administration: “Your rhetoric is hurting us all. Please, on behalf of all of us, find a way to make peace.”

Posted: 11/12/04

Congregatonal health ministries offering wholeness

By Penny McCulloch

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–During a fellowship supper in Beaumont, a nurse takes the blood pressure of a 42-year-old man. His blood pressure is high enough to cause a stroke.

But because his condition is detected in time, the young man worships and serves God disease-free, his blood pressure well under control.

In another part of town, another nurse visits a widow who has been identified as “homebound.” She discovers the woman is not homebound; she is embarrassed because her son has AIDS, so she doesn't go to church anymore.

The nurse mobilizes the congregation to deliver food, provide sitters and help with other needs. Because of the church's congregational health ministries program, the man dies peacefully, knowing he is loved by his church family. His mother returns to active membership, also knowing she is loved and not judged.

David Cross, a chaplain at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital in Beaumont, shared these stories as part of a presentation on congregational health ministries during a breakout session at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in San Antonio.

Congregational health ministries encourage church members to monitor and take responsibility for their health by focusing on prevention, assessment, education and advocacy, Cross said, noting they promote holistic wellness.

The ministries provide registered nurses who serve as referrals and resources within the faith community, he said. Their roles are designed to meet the needs of the particular group or congregation.

More than 3,000 congregational nurses practice in the United States, Cross said. The majority are college-prepared and have been in nursing more than 10 years. They practice in churches of every denomination in rural, urban and suburban settings.

Some examples of congregational health ministries include blood pressure screening, stop-smoking programs, transportation of the elderly and disabled to medical and dental visits, grief or other health-related support groups, health education, exercise programs, flu shots, weight-loss programs, telephone buddies, caregiver support groups and health fairs.

“Wouldn't it be better to prevent health problems than to be at the other end of the continuum?” Cross said.

“Wouldn't it be better to listen to a widow's grief instead of visiting her after it has eroded into a depression? Or to comfort a newly diagnosed diabetic instead of missing her on Sunday because she is at home, confused about how to handle her new life changes?”

For more information about congregational health ministries, call (409) 212-5648, or write Becky Seymour, Chaplaincy Department Congregational Health Ministries Coordinator, Carl T. Hinote Building, 3450 Stagg Dr., Beaumont 77701. She also can be reached at rebekah.seymour@mhbh.org.

Posted: 11/12/04

Hispanic Fellowship explores family lessons from familiar parable

By Craig Bird

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Families–whether spiritual or biological, can learn lessons from the parable of the Prodigal Son, said the featured preacher at the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship meeting.

About 300 people gathered at Primera Iglesia Bautista in San Antonio for the 2004 meeting of the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship.

Martin Ortega, first vice president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and pastor of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Midland, explored the lessons to be learned from the “good family” in the story known as the Prodigal Son.

The mother-daughter duo of Enriqueta Ortiz and Rhoda Vance from the praise team at New Beacon Hill Baptist Church in San Antonio lead in worship at the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship.

Three words figure prominently in the Scripture passage in Luke 15:11-32–God, family and celebration, Ortega said. All three have things to say to the Hispanic biological family, the church family and the Baptist family of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Christians need to honor God with their lives so their children will respond to their example of faith and become faithful members of the church themselves, Ortega said. Christians also need to love those who live around them who don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ so they will come and join the family, he added.

He also urged Hispanics to be true to the New Testament teachings on joy and their own culture and “seek and find” reasons to celebrate the good things God does for and through his people.

“That is one thing perhaps we can model” for some of the non-Hispanics brothers and sisters in the BGCT, he joked.

“Most Anglo churches bring out the cakes and cookies and pies when they celebrate, but we Hispanics are like the father in this Scripture–we kill the cow when we have a party. And we eat it all.”

Another highlight of the evening was the sustained applause that greeted Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, when he was introduced as “the man who is expected to be elected the first Hispanic president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas later this week.”

Reyes urged a continued and increasing involvement of Hispanic churches in the mission and ministries of the BGCT.

BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade also drew laughter and applause when he noted, “We can't refer to the ethnic fellowships of the BGCT as minorities anymore because we all are minorities in Texas now as you well know.”

He thanked the Hispanic Fellowship for providing increasing leadership for all Texas Baptists in the coming years.