San Antonio pastor anticipates BUA graduation at age 71

SAN ANTONIO—When it comes to the dream of a college education, Julian Gonzales believes time never runs out.

Gonzales, the 71-year-old pastor of Iglesia Bautista Cristo El Rey in San Antonio, is scheduled to graduate this semester from Baptist University of the Américas with a bachelor’s degree in biblical and theological studies.

Julian Gonzales (center), BUA student and San Antonio pastor, finishes the 6th annual Eagle Run 5K in a familiar setting–surrounded by younger people. (BUA PHOTO/Craig Bird)

After graduating from East Central High School in 1961, Gonzales spent 15 years in the Army National Guard before transferring to the Air Force Reserve. “The military really instilled the value of higher education deep in my mind,” he said.

Consequently, Gonzales strongly and successfully encouraged his four children to go to college and complete their degrees. But the “do as I say and not as I do” admonition made him uneasy, because he still hadn’t completed his own bachelor’s degree.

In the late 1980s, Gonzales enrolled at BUA—then known as Hispanic Baptist Theological Seminary—and completed his associate degree in 1991.

But personal hardships disrupted plans when his wife, Rachel, became seriously ill in 1999.

“Her lungs filled with blood, and she nearly suffocated. She had to be on a ventilator for several days. The doctors told us she could go at anytime. Thankfully, with her will to live and our prayers, she lived an additional 11 years,” Gonzales said.

After five years on kidney dialysis, her potassium level rose to a dangerous level last year that caused fatal heart trouble.

“The incident was heartbreaking for me, because we had plans for our future, but no plans are greater than God’s,” Gonzales said. “In a way, I was also happy for Rachel, because she was suffering for a while now, and now Rachel gained heaven.”

In the aftermath of his loss, Gonzales decided to go back to school. He only needed 26 hours to complete his bachelor’s degree. He returned to BUA in the fall 2011 semester, taking three courses to get a feel for the student life again.

In his final semester, Gonzales is taking a full 12 hours. The biggest adjustment for him has been balancing the schoolwork with pastoral duties and home life.

“It was hard getting back into the routine of writing papers and studying, but overall, I have really enjoyed it,” he said.

BUA students welcomed him on campus.

“Julian is a delight in the classroom. Talk about chivalry being alive. I usually come into class with my hands full, and he always pulls the chair out for me. When I missed class, he shared his very organized notes with me,” fellow student Rhoda Vance said.

“I admire his steadfastness … and his loyalty to doing his work despite the challenges of being out of school for quite some time and his sweet spirit in and out of the classroom.”

Gonzales noted he has been asked frequently by other students to help them with their studies.

“I enjoy having the opportunity to pray for others and advise students. Some students confine in me in detail, which allows me to counsel with them. I love to help,” he said.

Classmate Claudia Bustamente called Gonzales an “inspiration” who is “always willing to give a word of encouragement, as well as helping in the courses we struggle with. He is a true servant of God and motivated to learn every day.”

In spite of the demands on his time, Gonzales has participated fully in campus life at BUA.

“He is always up for anything,” classmate Daniel Bello said. “When asked to participate, he is more than willing.”

Gonzales helped with new-student orientation, mentored with the Communities in Schools program and participated in the Eagle Run—a 5K fund-raiser for Communities in School, in which he won his age division each year of the last two years.

“He even played softball with us in the school picnic,” Bello added.

In September, BUA President René Maciel asked Gonzalez to join the office of university relations staff as a volunteer to represent the university at public events.

“Everywhere I went to speak about BUA, it seemed like he was there. He is a great addition to our team,” Maciel said.

Gonzalez insists God made it possible for him to go back to school. God has kept him in good health—he takes no pain medication and has no ongoing medical ailments.

“I would just like to give God all the credit for this. God will always fulfill his promises. We may not, but he will. We just have to have faith and obey him,” Gonzales said.