BUA inaugurates Jaquez as president

SAN ANTONIO—Because of its past accomplishments, Baptist University of the Américas is “poised to do new things,” Abraham Jaquez said at his inauguration and formal installation as the school’s eighth president.

BUA has accepted the challenge to continue to provide education for men and women to serve congregations throughout Texas and around the world, Jaquez told participants at his March 2 inauguration at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio.

“We will prepare biblical servant leaders who are ready to lead and serve in a cross-cultural environment,” he said. “That need for cross-cultural Hispanic Christian leadership is even greater today than it was yesterday, and it will be even greater in the years to come.”

Currently, 65 percent of Hispanic leaders in Texas Baptist churches are BUA graduates, he said.

“Our bridge must be paved with the mission of providing a holistic, cross-cultural education, founded on biblical principles for Hispanic men and women,” he said.

While the goal to provide theological education to a rising number of Hispanics in the state can be challenging, Jaquez said, he knows he can count on the support of Texas Baptist churches to achieve that goal.

“For the task before us we will clothe ourselves with humility, with understanding, and knowing that we serve the Almighty,” he said. “It’s a brand new day. Now, let us go and build that bridge.”

Since Jaquez accepted the role of BUA president last August, he has established a good relationship with the students and provided them a good model to follow, student Jason Martinez said.

“He shows that he really loves Christ,” Martinez noted.

The inauguration featured both local and denominational dignitaries, including state Rep. Thomas Uresti, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas President Rolando Aguirre, Convención Executive Director Jesse Rincones and Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director David Hardage.