Hispanic leaders take on local and international projects

Posted: 11/02/07

Hispanic leaders take on
local and international projects

By Analiz Gonzalez

Buckner International

AMARILLO—Hispanic Texas Baptists can make a difference in lives around the world, leaders of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas told a rally in Amarillo, prior to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting.

Hispanic Texas Baptists are lobbying for immigration reform, planning international missions and ministry projects, building homes for retired ministers and crossing generational barriers, said President Baldemar Borrego.

Hispanic convention representatives have visited the White House repeatedly in an effort to influence the debate on immigration reform. Specifically, they have urged lawmakers to support a resolution that would allow people to become permanent residents without having to leave the United States and the Dream Act, which would allow young people to apply for legal status under the condition of obtaining higher education, joining the military or doing a set amount of community service.

Leaders are exploring a missions project to involve Hispanic Baptists in building a well in India, Borrega reported.

“This is the first time that we, as a Hispanic group, are working together to help our brothers and sisters in India,” he said. “We are also looking into working with orphans and widows in the country.”

While Hispanic Texas Baptists have the world on their hearts, the focus of the Hispanic convention continues to be Texas, Borrego said. And part of that focus is a project to build retirement homes for pastors. The first house will be completed soon, and it should be ready for occupancy the third or fourth week of November.

The group also is working on leadership development, Borrego said. Experienced pastors are being equipped to mentor people who feel called to enter the ministry but have no experience in leading churches.

The Hispanic convention also wants to unify people of different generations within the Hispanic community, Borrego noted.

“With culture and language, there is often a lot of separation, and we want to be sure that as Hispanics, we are able to preserve the value we hold for all members of the family, regardless of their age,” he said, noting the Hispanic convention is seeking to involve young people in key positions.

“When we hold convención this year, we will have conferences, called a youth convocation, which will be geared towards the third generation,” he said.