Julio Guarneri, incumbent first vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, will be nominated for reelection.
Tony Celelli, president of Stark College and Seminary, announced he will nominate Guarneri at Texas Baptists’ annual meeting in Galveston, Nov. 14-16.
Celelli praised Guarneri as “a Baptist statesman for today and for the next season” in Baptist life.
“Julio has a heart for missions and evangelism,” he said, noting the priorities of Guarneri’s ministry are in line with Texas Baptists’ priorities.
Celelli also characterized Guarneri not only as “a product of Texas Baptists,” but also as a “pioneer among Texas Baptists.”
“Calvary Baptist Church is a pioneer in ministry—a church that is multiethnic, multigenerational and multicultural,” he said.
‘Churches need to be encouraged’
Guarneri said he is willing to serve another term if elected, because he is excited about what is happening among Texas Baptists in the areas of discipleship, church planting and church revitalization.
“I want to be part of that and to share in shaping its implementation,” he said.
Reflecting on the challenges churches and their leaders have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Guarneri said, “Churches need to be encouraged.”
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“By networking, we can help churches recover—to experience healing from the losses they sustained and look to the future with optimism,” he said.
“The role of the convention is to cast a vision and to encourage pastors to cooperate and network.”
Guarneri voiced support for Executive Director David Hardage’s GC2 initiative—emphasizing Texas Baptists’ commitment both to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as given by Jesus.
“I’d like to see Texas Baptists continue to position themselves in a Christ-like position,” he said, resisting the temptation to be “coopted by a political agenda.”
“We can be kingdom-minded,” he said.
Guarneri also noted his desire to see Texas Baptists’ multicultural and multiethnic work grow and expand.
Leading a cross-cultural congregation
Since 2010, Guarneri has been pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, a cross-cultural congregation in the Rio Grande Valley.
Previously, he was pastor of Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in Fort Worth for 17 years. He also served as minister of education and youth at Segunda Iglesia Bautista in Corpus Christi, was founding pastor of Shalom Baptist Mission in Corpus Christi and was pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Taft.
Guarneri was born in Mexico City but attended junior high and high school in South Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, a Master of Arts in Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University.
He has served as moderator of Tarrant Baptist Association and on the board of trustees of Buckner International, as well as on the board of what is now Stark College and Seminary.
He and his wife Monica have four children—Josh, Rachel, Mia and Stevan.
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