Hispanic youth challenged to see God-given potential & purposeHispanic youth challenged to s

Updated: 5/11/07

Hispanic youth challenged
to see God-given potential & purpose

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BELTON—God designed each person exactly as he wanted and has plans for each individual, Victor Rodriguez, pastor of South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio, told participants at the Baptist General Convention of Texas Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso.

Unfortunately, many people easily forget that notion when they look in the mirror, he said. They focus on what they see as their faults and weaknesses. They listen to the criticism of others and allow it to affect the way they view themselves.

Participants at the Texas Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso join in worship.

People need to remember God created each person with the characteristics he wanted them to have in order to accomplish what he wants, Rodriguez stressed.

In order for young people—particularly Hispanics—to become educated and attain high-level jobs, they have to overcome people’s criticisms.

“In order for us to be successful, we’ve got to understand who we are,” he said.

God loves people unconditionally, the pastor said. He justifies humanity in his presence and forgives people for their sins.

God is working in the lives of his followers, changing their lives, Rodriguez emphasized. The Bible teaches God has a purpose for each person. God knows that purpose and is moving people toward that goal, he said.

Members of The Gathered, a band from Kingsville, play during the Baptist General Convention of Texas Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso.

“He doesn’t see you as you are today,” Rodriguez said. “He sees you as you’re going to become.”

More than 300 Congreso participants put their faith in action during the conference. They passed out fliers promoting five churches in Temple and Belton, stocked food pantries and sorted clothes for clothes ministries.

Tom Henderson, Bell Baptist Association director of missions, said congregations and ministries appreciated the students’ work. In the weeks following the event, he anticipated Anglo and Hispanic congregations serving together in new ways, in part as a result of coming together to provide Congreso students a place to serve.

“It was incredible because, first of all, it gave the Congreso folks a way to incarnate the message they are receiving,” he said. “It allowed our churches to see the great potential Congreso has to interact.”