Posted: 5/27/05
TOGETHER:
Hispanic ministries touch the world
Many Texas Baptists are unaware of the rich relationships that exist within the fellowship of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. For many years now, our convention has embraced the cultural diversity of Texas.
Among our 5,700 cooperating congregations are 1,200 Hispanic, 700 African-American, and 250 largely Asian and African congregations. They will hold meetings this summer that will gather thousands of participants for fellowship, training, inspiration and planning.
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| Executive Director BGCT Executive Board |
When we gather in Austin this November for the BGCT annual meeting, Texans who have come from around the world will join in a great celebration of our unity and our calling. The theme will be “One Family … One Mission.”
Our work among Hispanic Baptists is indicative of this larger cultural diversity.
The Mexican Baptist Convention of Texas, founded in 1895, merged with the BGCT in 1960 and is called the Hispanic Baptist Convencion, since it includes Spanish-speaking people from around the globe. They are an integral part of all we do as Texas Baptists. Their churches are growing in their support of our common mission vision and goals. This is shown in increased giving through the Cooperative Program.
During the past 10 years, the BGCT Church Starting Center has encouraged and helped churches and associations in starting 1,136 mission congregations among the Hispanic people of Texas. Seventy-six percent of these survive until now. This is a very high percentage.
A Hispanic Education Task Force is being established by the BGCT and the Convencion. It will develop a comprehensive plan, involving churches, associations, BGCT ministries and institutions, to encourage and equip Hispanic youth to complete high school and pursue higher education.
Encouraged by the Convencion, the entire BGCT has adopted a partnership with the Baptists of Mexico. One of the projects has been to partner with the Hospital Mexicano-Americano in Guadalajara. This hospital was started almost 50 years ago with the help of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our Texas Baptist hospitals have provided encouragement and made available equipment and training. A Texas Baptist layman has provided almost $1 million to help the hospital renovate and gain access to the most up-to-date medical technology.
Recently, I was in Guadalajara witnessing the amazing gift that quality health care provides for people and the way that caring for the sick and their families helps people to experience the presence of Christ in their lives. Fourteen churches have been started in the city by doctors and administrators who work in the hospital.
I met two students from Baptist University of the Americas, our school in San Antonio, preparing for chaplaincy service. The gifted physician-administrator, Omar Nicolas, told me of the long relationship the hospital has had with the chaplaincy program from the Baptist hospital in San Antonio. Hundreds of Mexican ministers and lay people have been trained for service there.
The Mexican hospital accreditation agency has given this hospital its highest rating, and the hospital's growth has brought positive publicity and encouragement to the Baptist churches in that region of Mexico.
When you support the work of the BGCT, you touch the world.
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