Reyes to be nominated for BGCT president; first non-Anglo in history_82304

Posted: 8/20/04

Reyes to be nominated for BGCT
president; first non-Anglo in history

By Marv Knox

Editor

SAN ANTONIO–Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas and current first vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will be nominated for president of the BGCT this fall.

If elected, Reyes will become the first non-Anglo president in convention history.

Charlie Johnson, Reyes' pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, reported he will present Reyes for president when the BGCT meets in their city Nov. 8-9.

“It's my great privilege to make this nomination; Albert is the present incarnation of the future of Texas Baptist life,” Johnson said.

“His leadership at Baptist University of the Americas has taken that institution to a new level. He is a visionary, but he also has the administrative and organizational instincts to implement a new vision.”

Reyes has distinguished himself as a builder of bridges between cultures, Johnson added.

“He's comfortable in and conversant with a multiple-cultural context. Of course, that's why God has placed him here, for such a time as this.”

Reyes also is a strong church member, he said. “He's a faithful churchman–I mean, like clockwork on the Sabbath. He's the kind of co-minister every pastor wants–an encourager, supporter and wise counselor.

“On top of that, his role as a father and husband is a beautiful thing to watch. His wife, Belinda, is a partner and companion in every way. And their sons, Joshua, David and Tommy, are splendid kids.”

Reyes' willingness to take on the demands of the presidency grows out of his own “indebtedness to Texas Baptists,” he explained. A Texas Baptist evangelist introduced his family to Jesus Christ on a ranch near Snyder in the 1930s. That introduction blossomed into a broad relationship with Christ that has touched his extended family, he said.

So, he would serve as president “out of a desire to return back to Texas Baptists what they have given to our family,” he said.

Reyes has enjoyed serving as a convention officer alongside President Ken Hall and Second Vice President Dennis Young this year, he said.

“It's been a good year,” he added. “We've made some headway and seen some positive things.”

Among the positive developments has been a reorganization/strategy process set in motion by BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade, with the support of the officers, he said, noting he would work to provide continuity to that process.

Reorganization of the BGCT is coming at a strategic time, Reyes observed. He cited not only changes within the denomination, but also major demographic shifts within the state. Texas is changing from being a predominantly Anglo culture to a Hispanic-majority state, with additional growth in the numbers of African Americans as well as non-Hispanic ethnic groups.

“The convention can position itself to advance our kingdom work through congregations and institutions,” Reyes said of the opportunities for a reorganized BGCT. Reorganization “can put the convention right at the edge of what is happening in Texas.”

The convention will increase its emphasis on working with churches and institutions to share the gospel and meet people's needs, he predicted. “I'm excited to be associated with the convention at this time.”

Reyes sees the possibility of becoming the BGCT's first Hispanic and first non-Anglo president as historic but also in keeping with the convention's recent past.

A Hispanic president would make “a very strong statement to the whole Texas Baptist family–that there is a pattern of inclusiveness we've seen in the past few years,” he said.

As examples, he pointed to increased ethnic involvement on the BGCT Executive Board and convention committees. The chairs of all 2004 convention committees are members of non-Anglo ethnic groups.

“At the same time, I'd say this follows a pattern of diversity we've already seen,” Reyes added. “It sends a message to Hispanic Baptists and other ethnic groups that Texas Baptists are serious about inviting all groups to the table. It's a positive statement about who we say we are. … All have a place of leadership.

“This is the natural expression of what the convention has been doing the past few years. It's a positive statement about the future.”

If elected president, Reyes will emphasize a strategic focus and three ongoing initiatives, he said.

“My strategic focus is that I would like this next year to be about missions,” he noted. “It's the best thing we do as Texas Baptists. When I talk about missions across the state, I always hear people say, 'Well, that's the heart of Texas Baptists.'

“Missions is foundational to my own pilgrimage and ministry. And the time is right to make missions a front-burner emphasis for every church, every ethnic group and all the (BGCT) institutions.”

That can be implemented through three initiatives–going, giving and grounding, he added.

“I would think about going cross-culture, whether that is in the community, the county, the country or to the nations,” he said.

“When we look at the Great Commission, (we see) Jesus had his eye on the nations,” he explained, noting Christians are to present the gospel to all people from all places.

“If a church, person or institution has not identified a nation, choose one. If you already have a nation, add another one,” he urged. “But 'going' may not necessarily mean leaving the county or the country. The nations have come to us. It may mean identifying a people group in your community or county, possibly elsewhere in the nation and possibly in another country.”

To illustrate, he noted: “In Bexar County, there's a whole community of people from Thailand. … Do something to go to a group and share the gospel.”

Giving involves increasing financial support for missions, Reyes said, calling on all Texas Baptists to give more.

Whether individually or as a church, “figure out your giving as a percentage of your budget,” he said. “Work toward 10 percent or beyond. If there's nothing on the budget for missions, start with 1 percent or 2 percent and increase it incrementally. If it's already 10 percent, increase that, too.”

Grounding means praying for missions, Reyes stressed.

“We need to increase our times and patterns of prayer throughout the year,” he said, noting he would offer specific ideas about how to focus on praying for missions.

If elected, Reyes would become the second institutional president in a row to lead the convention. Hall is president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, which provides ministries to children, families and the elderly statewide.

“I know serving as an institutional president and convention president is not new,” Reyes said. “My goal is to serve all Texas Baptists. If I'm elected, I'll be in my regular ministry, serving Baptist University of the Americas, but I'll be looking at how I can serve all Texas Baptists.”

Before becoming president of Baptist University of the Americas in 1999, Reyes was founding pastor of Pueblo Nuevo Community Church in El Paso. He also has been pastor of Love Field Church/North Temple Baptist Church in Dallas and Iglesia Bautista Alfa/Home Gardens in Dallas.

Reyes received an undergraduate degree from Angelo State University. He earned master's and doctor's degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he is working on another doctorate from Andrews University.

Reyes has been chair of the Hispanic Outreach Task Force of the White House Initiative for Hispanic Academic Excellence.

He is a board member of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs and Texas Baptists Committed and was a trustee of Valley Baptist Academy.

Belinda Reyes is a regent of Baylor University.