Venezuelan Baptists hit their stride, enter partnership with BGCT

Posted: 9/29/07

Venezuelan Baptists hit their stride,
enter partnership with BGCT

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

CARACAS, Venezuela—By age 50 or so, some people have become mired in mid-life crisis or start downshifting into pre-retirement gear. But Venezuelan Baptists are just hitting their stride.

The National Baptist Convention of Venezuela, which was started in 1951, is experiencing unprecedented growth. Last year, the nearly 500-church convention launched a strategic plan to double the number of churches in the convention by 2010. Venezuelan Baptists started 70 churches during the first year, and they hope to start another 70 by the end of 2007.

For more information about mission opportunities in Venezuela, call BGCT Texas Partnerships at (888) 244-9400. View a slideshow of photos from Venezuela.

Many existing congregations either are starting or are in the midst of construction projects in an effort to keep pace with growth. Often, the increase in membership is so rapid, Sunday school classes are forced to meet in half-constructed facilities.

Where land is too expensive for a church to buy, Baptists are meeting in homes while they save money.

Baptists are starting schools and medical and sports clinics. They are holding Vacation Bible Schools. Enrollment in the seminary and Bible institutes is growing. Though they remain less than 1 percent of the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation, Baptists are seeing Christ change lives and communities.

Individuals are professing Christ as Lord and being invigorated by a relationship with him, Venezuelan Baptist leaders said.

“When Jesus Christ changes people, nothing remains the same,” said Alexander Montero, general secretary of the Venezuelan Baptist convention. “A personal transformation leads to the transformation of families, which can lead to the transformation of a country.”

Venezuelan Baptist churches have been particularly effective in ministering to children.

Venezuelan Baptists would like help to continue expanding God’s kingdom. The Baptist General Convention of Texas is entering a partnership with the Venezuelan Baptist convention in missions, ministry and evangelism. The relationship continues extended ties between Texas and Venezuela Baptists, as many of the early Venezuelan Baptist churches were started by Texans.

The country provides a wide array of settings for service—wealthy, poor, beach, urban, rural and mountainous. It also offers a variety of projects—construction, evangelism, teaching, Vacation Bible Schools and leadership development—for participation.

Venezuelan Baptists hope churches in their country can partner with Texas congregations and develop a relationship. They would like to assist Texans as much as they would like Texans to help them.

Venezuelan Baptist ministry with children has been particularly effective, leaders there noted. A significant number of poorer families have one parent present, and that person has to work to support the children. Congregations have been able to step in to help provide the attention children need.

Iglesia Evangelica Bautista la Trinidad in eastern Venezuela regularly provides recreation activities for 50 to 60 children who otherwise would roam the streets during the day. The events give church members an opportunity to show the children that people care for them and share the gospel.

Children run into a pond at a Venezuelan Baptist camp. The camp has several construction projects that Texas Baptists can help with.

The Baptist church in Mucuchies, located in the Andes Mountains, has developed a relationship with children who have special needs. The congregation provides special programs and Christmas gifts for them.

“The children need attention,” said Tomas Hudson, pastor of Iglesia Evangelica Bautista la Trinidad. “The church gives them attention. We’re open to the children coming to church.”

One of the first efforts Venezuelans would like help with is Caracas 2008, a city-wide evangelistic outreach in January 2008. This effort is being led by more than 60 Baptist congregations from across the greater-Caracas region that want to share the gospel with a large portion of the city, believing that could have a larger effect on the country. Texas Baptists who want to participate in this effort can learn more at www.bgct.org/txpart/caracas2008.

“People are concentrated in Caracas,” said Manuel Castillo, pastor of Iglesia Bautista de Catia in Caracas. “They come from across the country to be in Caracas. If they know Jesus Christ, they will share Christ with friends and family members outside the city.”

The approach to the crusade mirrors the Venezuelan Baptist approach to ministry in their country. They understand they make up a small portion of the nation’s population but believe God can use them to have a great impact.

“The future is great for Baptists,” said Guillermo Silva, a missionary in the Andes Mountains.