Hispanic Convocation stresses leadership

Posted: 11/10/06

Hispanic Convocation stresses leadership

By Orville Scott

Special to the Baptist Standard

SPICEWOOD—More than 500 participants at the 2006 Convocation of Varones Bautistas at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center were challenged to be “prayer warriors” for Christ and leaders for God in their families and churches

Convocation Coordinator Eli Rodriguez of Dallas noted five and 10 people were in the prayer room, praying for each speaker as he or she spoke, and he was convinced it had a clear impact on their messages.

“The most important thing you do as a leader is pray,” said Lorenzo Peña, director of associational missions for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Ministry must reach into communities and not be confined to what is done inside the four walls of a church building, said Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio.

“We must go out and reach the lost for Christ,” Rodriguez said. “Get away from the walls of the church. The temple is not the church.”

Baldemar Borrego, president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, issued a call for “servants who are willing to follow God’s orders.”

“Regardless of our situation, we need to remember God is still in control,” Borrego said. “We need to start over and put God where he belongs.”

Christian leadership begins with submission to Christ, said Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas.

“One who leads follows Christ first,” Reyes said. “Surrender and accept the specific assignment of the Father.”

Christian leaders must pass three tests, Reyes said: Can they be trusted with the word of God? Can they be trusted when nobody is looking? Do they follow God’s orders?

Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director Charles Wade stressed the importance of cooperation.

“All of us cannot do alone what all of us can do together,” he said.

Wade urged pastors to help church members become strong leaders.

“No church can be stronger than its leaders,” he said.

Alfonso Flores Jr., pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana in San Antonio, emphasized the essential attributes of Christian leaders.

“Leaders must have character, conviction, concentration and confidence, all centered around Jesus Christ,” Flores said. Flores and Wade were among recipients of the Double Diamond Awards, presented for contributions to the growth of the Hispanic Baptist Convocation of the Laity.

Others honored were Rolando Lopez, associate director of missions for San Antonio Baptist Association; Damon Hollingsworth, Texas Baptist Men region 20 leader; Eve Rodriguez of Dallas who began the Ministers’ Wives’ Conference at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas; Leo Smith, executive director of Texas Baptist Men; and Sam Marroquin, director of a large choir from Houston area churches.