Hispanic Texas Baptist rally: God works through his people

SAN ANTONIO—God’s plan for expanding his kingdom involves working through the lives of people in his church so they testify about him, Victor Rodriguez, pastor of Life Church of San Antonio, told a Hispanic Texas Baptist event.

The former Baptist General Convention of Texas president preached during the Hispanic rally that kicked off the Texas Baptist Family Gathering.

Rodriguez encouraged Texas Baptists to share the gospel in their communities. God desires a relationship with every person, and to do that, he works through his followers, Rodriguez said.

Churches are meant to share the gospel, he said, and deeming anything else more important than that mission undermines its God-given purpose. While Life Church, formerly known as South San Filadelphia Baptist Church, is involved in a variety of community ministries, the church views sharing the gospel as the most crucial aspect of all it does, he stressed.

“Only a healthy church can minister to a sick society,” he said.

Rodriguez recalled a man who came to him one day and thanked him for all the congregation was doing in the neighborhood. His family had greatly benefitted, and he was grateful. Rodriguez accepted his thanks gracefully, then he asked the man if he’d ever professed Christ as his Savior. He replied he had not, so Rodriguez invited him to do so.

God is powerful, Rodriguez said. God wants to use his followers in mighty ways to transform the lives of individuals and entire communities.

“Christ lives in your church. Christ loves your church,” Rodriguez said. “There is power where Christ lives.”