DALLAS—After COVID-19 prevented the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas from meeting in person last year, this year’s June 27-28 gathering at Dallas Baptist University looked more like a family reunion and worship celebration than a business meeting.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought us disruptions, challenges, fear, pain and much more,” said Jesse Rincones, executive director of Convención. “These challenges and even the loss of loved ones reached our congregations and affected the lives of our people.”
Even so, he noted, Hispanic Texas Baptists have reason to give thanks to God for his constant love, for pastors and churches who adapted and continued to minister, for members who remained faithful in giving and service, and for the ability to continue cooperating in missions and ministry, Rincones noted.
“Una Iglesia Fortalecida” (A Strengthened Church) was the theme of the Convención annual meeting, as Hispanic Texas Baptists celebrated God’s faithfulness in bringing them through a difficult time.
“In a changing world, there are truths that do not change,” Tony Miranda of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Austin told the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas in his presidential message.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many unwelcome changes in 2020, but it also enabled God’s people to see more clearly those spiritual truths from God’s word that are unchanging and immovable, he emphasized.
“The message of salvation and hope we proclaim is the same before, during and after COVID,” Miranda said. “This message has the same power to save, and the world needs it both yesterday and today.”
The Holy Spirit is with God’s people and indwelling God’s people, and no pandemic can change that, he stressed.
“In such a changing world, in the midst of chaos and despair, let us trust in the Lord based on this truth. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” Miranda said.
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Ramón Medina, global pastor of the Spanish ministries of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, pointed to Acts 16 as an example of how God sometimes changes the plans we have made.
The Apostle Paul had his own well-planned missionary journey in mind. But Paul adjusted those plans and responded in obedience when he was called to preach the gospel in Macedonia, Medina explained.
“I must remember that my good plan is not always God’s plan,” he said. “I must keep my heart humble to discover God’s plan.”
Officers elected
During a brief business meeting, Convención messengers re-elected by acclamation Miranda as president and Abiel Ake of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Edinburg as secretary.
Messengers also elected Silvia Ake of Edinburg as first vice president and re-elected Edson Lara of McAllen as second vice president.
They approved a $396,000 budget for 2022, with the bulk of the budget devoted to administering the Thriving in Ministry and Thriving Congregations grants from the Lilly Endowment.
New directors approved for the Convención executive board are Eder Ibarra from Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, Eduardo Marquez from Iglesia Bautista Hosanna in Houston, Sergio Ramos from The Promise Church in Dallas and Abigail Rojas from Iglesia Bautista Azle Avenue in Fort Worth.
Convención recognized as the Top 15 cooperating churches: Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in Fort Worth, Alliance Baptist Church in Lubbock, Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, Iglesia Nueva Vida in Brownwood, Iglesia Bautista Redencion in Houston, Azle Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Iglesia Bautista Segunda in San Angelo, New Life at the Cross in Corpus Christi, Agape Baptist Church in San Antonio, Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, Hispana Baptist Church in Lubbock, Emmanuel Baptist Church in McAllen, Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Farmersville and Iglesia Bautista el Calvario in Mount Pleasant.
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