Hispanic Baptist Leaders

I am very excited about the “Adelante…the next 100 years” initiative that the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas officers are proposing at Convención’s annual meeting in San Antonio this year. Considering the growth of the Hispanic population in Texas, and the numerical strength of Hispanic work in Texas, this is the right time for such an initiative. In 2010, as the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas celebrated its 100^th anniversary, it approved a revised unification agreement with the BGCT at its annual meeting (June) in San Antonio. Messengers to the BGCT’s annual meeting in McAllen (November) also approved this agreement. Acting on the implications of this revised agreement, president Jesse Rincones and the officers of Convención have ably prepared and are proposing new bylaws, which call for the formation of an executive board for Convención. The “Adelante” initative is historical and brilliant. It keeps Convención as a body that is integrally related to BGCT. It encourages its affiliated churches to continue to support the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program with their offerings and to participate fully in the life of BGCT. And yet, it gives Convención a new level of freedom to speak into the direction of Hispanic work in Texas and to support new initiatives that meet the ever increasing needs of its work.

During its first 100 years, Convención experienced the freedom and the hardships of being completely independent until its unification with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1964.  Since 1964 Convención has enjoyed the synergy of being integrated into the larger family of Texas Baptists.  This period of its history has seen tremendous growth in many areas of Hispanic work.  Over 1,100 of Texas Baptists’ 5,500 congregations are Hispanic.  That’s over 20% of congregations.  (Convención is not only the largest Hispanic Baptist Convention in the United States but it is the largest Hispanic Baptist Convention in the world, following Brazil and Mexico).  Participation at the Hispanic Evangelism Conferences around the state has reached 3,400, by far surpassing the attendance to any other adult-oriented conference sponsored by BGCT.  Convención’s annual meetings attendance has been comparable to attendance at the BGCT’s annual meeting, sometimes more.  Congreso, the student event in the spring, has had over 7,000 in attendance.  While Hispanic events are not in competition with larger Texas Baptists family events, these numbers show the vitality and strength of Hispanic work.  This is an exciting time for Texas Baptists in general and for Hispanic Baptists!

As we enter Convención’s second century, BGCT and the Hispanic Convention do not need to be distant cousins.  Neither do they need to be mother and daughter.  They are two healthy sisters that need each other in the Baptist family.  They need to be interdependent, exercise freedom, and help each other further the cause of Christ in Texas and around the world.

Thanks Jesse and Convención officers for your hard work and your insightful leadership. Adelante!

Jesse Rincones

It’s no secret that the Hispanic population in the United States continues to rise. What does this mean for Baptist? Read this article about how this can be an opportunity for Baptist to reach out to this people group. Jesse Rinconess is the face of the article. Read the article from Associated Baptist Press.

6th President of Buckner

Congratulations to Dr. Albert Reyes, today the Board of Trustees of Buckner International named him the sixth President of Buckner. We are extremely proud of this great honor. We are so glad that you have answered the calling that the Lord has put on your life.

Dr. Reyes is a contributor of rDestino and is author of his own blog (Pan Dulce) where you can read more about this accomplishment from his point of view where he also outlines his call to ministry.

You can read the press release that is coming out on the Baptist Standard as well.

As you can see this is a huge deal and I know that Dr. Albert Reyes is the right man for this position. If anyone can relate to overcoming adversity and helping children, orphans and elders, Albert can. Take a moment and watch the video below. You will see what I mean.

The first half of this post was taken from ChristianityToday.com which posted a thought-provoking article titled, “Is the Era of Age Segmentation Over?” Read the Article here.

Youth Segregation

The statistics are grim. Rainer Research estimates that 70 percent of young people leave the church by age 22. Barna Group argues that the figure increases to 80 percent by age 30. The Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest denomination, recently observed that growth in their churches is failing to keep up with the birth rate. Taken together, these findings suggest a startling fact: not only are we failing to attract younger worshipers, we’re not holding on to the ones we have.

As executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary and a former youth pastor, Kara Powell has her eyes on the youth drop out trend. She is currently in the midst of a three-year College Transition Project, a study that involves over 400 youth group graduates and is focused on understanding how parents, churches, and youth ministries can set students on a trajectory of lifelong faith and service. Though research is ongoing, it is already revealing a promising pattern: youth involved in intergenerational relationships in church are showing promise for stronger faith in high school and beyond.

Leadership editors Marshall Shelley and Brandon O’Brien spoke with Kara about her research and what it means for the local church.

The following response is from: Pastor Julio Guarneri, Getsemani Baptist Church. (more…)

The summer is just about over and youth are getting ready to go back to school. However Singles are ending the summer late this year with Hispanic Singles Camp.

This year Hispanic Singles along with Young Married couples will gather together in Glen Rose, TX to have what is labled this year as Hispanic Singles Camp & Young Married Retreat. The date for the event is August 28-30, 2009.

Jesse Rincones along with Gabe Salazar will be our keynote speakers for the weekend. Our worship band this year is going to be Centro Worship from Dallas, TX and the worship concert will be led by Jeff Johnson.

The unique piece to this event is the inclusion of young Hispanic married couples. Many young couples have friends that are singles as well and so an event geared toward both groups does not exist. You either have a married retreat or you have an event for single adults. Both combinations are good but this camp is unique since it will include both.

If you are single or a young married adult, join us as we worship the Lord together and fellowship for a whole weekend.

Highlights of the camp at Glen Rose:

• Waterpark on the campgrounds
• Indoor Gymnasium
• Lake in the middle of camp

There will be late night activities such as sand volleyball and basketball tournaments. We will have an area for artistic campers to get creative. There will be so much more….like schmores on Friday night.

For more information visit the Hispanic Singles Camp website.

Have you had a chance to read George Barna’s latest findings on the Hispanic community in the United States?  It is quite an interesting read.  It seems to me that the Hispanic Community as a whole is slowly becoming: 1) More Evangelical and less Catholic 2) More Biblically literate and less superstitious.    Barna writes: “The research points out several important realities about the faith of Hispanics in America. First, Hispanics are becoming a more mainstream population in various ways – politically, economically, relationally, culturally – and this data reveals that they are assimilating in their faith perspectives and practices, as well.”

So, if this is true, (and it would seem to me that if this trend continues), it would be extremely beneficial to the non-Hispanics to empower, plan and partner with future Hispanic leaders.  The Hispanic Evangelical population needs to prepare to step up to the leadership demands of the immediate future.  Unfortunately, I see a huge gap existing between mainstream evangelical leadership and the Hispanic worshiper in the pew.   Please prove me wrong, but I don’t see a whole lot of Hispanics crowding the doorways of the leading Theological institutions of our day to be prepared to address the issues which face us from a biblical perspective.  Probably because the mainstream population is not coming to us (Hispanic evangelicals) for those answers.  Or perhaps it is because our future Hispanic leaders do not believe the key to our success to to “study to show ourselves approved” and to be “thoroughly equipped” (2 Tim 2:15, 3:17).

As a young Christian, the writings of the late Francis Shaeffer greatly impacted me, and still haunt me to this day.  In his book: “How Should We then Live?”  he wrote: “If God exists and we are made in his image we can have real meaning, and we can have real knowledge through what he has communicated to us.“  His simple yet deep words impacted a generation of leaders and thinkers through the eighties and nineties and continues on though this day.  They put the Bible in understandable terms and applied them to the issues that faced our nation.  Another statement he made helped me more to think about how to understand the times in which we live.  He wrote: “Each generation of the church in each setting has the responsibility of communicating the gospel in understandable terms, considering the language and thought-forms of that setting.” Those words invigorated the ministries of that era such as Campus Crusade for Christ, The Navigators, various radio ministries and other leading evangelical institutions.  If you are not familiar with him, he is someone with whom you should familiarize yourself.  I believe that he was the father of the Christian conservative movement in the United States.  His influence, while still present is slipping away to the influence of post-modernism in the church (but I’ll leave that discussion for another day).

When I assess the view on the ground in regards to our situation today I see three major trends.  One is that with the election of our new president Barack Obama, those who were once considered non-mainstream are being considered main stream.  A second is that white evangelicals are losing their influence on the whole population, as evidenced by their influence in the republican party.  Third, the economic down turn we are experiencing is the result of greed, worldliness and sin, and our country is in desperate need of revival.

As the baby boomers pass away, the next largest segment of our society coming down the road is the Hispanic community.  It is not a question of when, but it is now that a transition and shift is happening in our culture.  We should thank God that this large segment is becoming more “spiritual and mainstream” as Barna writes.   Could you imagine if this segment went another direction?  Therefore my brothers, as God convicts us, let us not drop the baton that is being handed to us at this time from those who have gone before us.  Let us be biblical first and relevant second.  Let us lead the multitudes to the message of Christ communicated loudly, boldly and passionately to a generation who is desperate to hear it.

However, do not be discouraged by the former mainstream who still does not understand what as happened to them.  There are still some who are not quick to hand over the baton.  That’s ok, we won’t wait for them.  It is God who opens doors and creates ways out of no way.  We need to be faithful to Him who has called us and be ready when our opportunity is presented to us.  If you don’t see Hispanic leaders on platforms, boards, nomination forms, invited guest speakers, consultants, best selling lists, commentators, Senior Pastor Positions, TV hosts, talk show guests and analysts; If they want our vote, but not our voice, our numbers but not our opinions, our market but not our convictions; If they are looking but not buying, hoping but not trusting, seeing but not believing, it is probably because they believe that we, the Hispanic Evangelical population, does not exist.  And, perhaps they are right.  Perhaps the Hispanics that they have asked in the past were not prepared to give a ready answer that is biblical, accurate and reliable.  Perhaps they were not ready to stand up and step in the gap of those who could be entrusted with that message.  But I believe that now is the time my brothers, to prove them wrong, in love.

The obstacles to overcome are staggering.  Biblical illiteracy, lack of a moral compass and an absence of Christian conviction continue to dominate our Hispanic culture.  As a Hispanic Pastor, trying to impact our culture I feel as though we are out manned, out gunned, out spent and out done on every level.  While the spiritual vacuum seems to grow greater, our resources seem to be growing tighter.  That is ok my brothers, because I would rather be in the center of His will, then living high on easy street.  Remember 1 Peter 3:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  While our journey may be overwhelming at times, let us remember that God is faithful and He has not put anything upon us, that we can not handle. Let us not back down in our insistence that Jesus is our answer, Christ is our calling and the Holy Spirit is our power.  We might not see the leading institutions being influenced by our calling, but one day, perhaps our children see that day.  We ought not fear that which we cannot see, but we need to fear Him, whom we cannot see and  trust that His truth will remain the same through all generations.  So hold on my brothers to that which God has given to you to do, and be faithful to complete what He has promised to complete in you.  And let God receive the glory and the praise.  And let’s see what Mr. Barna writes about us next.

God bless you!

Pastor Vince Gonzales

North Dallas Family Church

This year as the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas will meet at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, it will be electing a new president.  The election of officers will launch a year of preparation for Convención’s centennial anniversary to be celebrated in San Antonio.

            Hispanic Baptist work in Texas has come a long way in 100 years!  From that small group of faithful and committed Mexican-origin Baptists, we have become a diverse people.  Our congregations include first-generation immigrants, as well as second, third and fourth generation Hispanics.  Our countries of origin include Mexico, Central American countries, South American countries and countries in the Caribbean.  Our ranks include the working class, school teachers, business owners, community leaders, doctors and lawyers.  Our presence is felt in rural areas, small towns, inner-cities and the suburbs.  Our congregations vary in size, worship style and language preference.  At such a time like this, Convención needs a leader who understands and represents the wide diversity of our Hispanic Baptist work in Texas.

            I am nominating pastor Victor Rodriguez of  South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio as president of Convención because he represents the best of leadership in our midst.  He is a product of our Hispanic Baptist work in Texas.  The son of a Texas Hispanic Baptist pastor, Manuel Rodriguez, (who also has served as Convención president), Bro. Victor was a leader among our youth as president of the jóvenes in San Antonio, president of youth camp and president of our state singles camp.  He was educated in Baptist institutions, namely Hardin Simmons University and Wayland Baptist University.  He is bilingual.  He relates to first –generation Hispanics, as well as to second and third generation Hispanics.  Pastor Rodriguez has worked well with Anglos and is well-respected in the San Antonio Baptist Association as well as the Asociación Hispana in San Antonio.  He has worked in harmony with BGCT personnel.  He ministers in the barrio and his vision includes reaching all Hispanics with the whole gospel, including salvation, education, family care and economic improvement.  Victor Rodriguez represents the best of what Convención has been about for 100 years.  He is the profile of a Texas Baptist Hispanic leader.   He is one of ours!  As such he can be an inclusive and understanding leader for our Convención, leading us into the next century of Hispanic Baptist work of collaboration with all those who are committed to the advancement of the gospel in Texas and beyond.

            Bro. Victor has demonstrated skill, passion and ability to lead in his 24 years of ministry as a Texas Hispanic Baptist pastor.  He has been a church planter and the church  which he now pastors has grown from 25 members to over 900 under his leadership.  The church has community ministries that impact 1,300 people on a weekly basis and in the last five years has baptized an average of 100 people annually.  Pastor Rodriguez is supported by his wife Olga and his three sons, Victor, Fernando and Manuel.  His vision is to see Convención impacting all Hispanics in Texas in the spiritual, education, family care, ministerial development and church ministries.

A few months back I was sitting in Jesse Rincones’s office, and as we were talking about ministry, life and his iphone we got on track about something he had read in an article about growing ministries. The summary of the article was that we needed to get people in leadership that were not only good at doing their job, but were excellent at training others to do the job as well. For example I should not only hire a youth minister, but a youth minister that knows how to disciple others to minister with youth as well. How amazing would it be to be at a church with 10 youth ministers, 5 music ministers, 7 administrators, 12 children’s ministers, and 4 people who were able to preach? How about having 100 missionaries serving from your church and seeing them impact your city, your state, your nation, and other countries??This has been on my heart for a few weeks now especially as Community Heights is praying about what are purpose is. ?I remember my first staff retreat while I was a youth minister @ Getsemani in Fort Worth, we were challenged “to work ourselves out of a job.” Brother Julio had challenged us to develop leaders to be in ministry with us and instead of building a ministry around myself to build it around a team. I began to disciple leaders to teach Sunday school, discipleship training, and even began an intern program and had 2 young men who were called to ministry fill those positions. Before I knew it we were impacting more lives and I was free to do more things. In fact on Sundays I didn’t teach a Sunday school class or Discipleship class for the youth. The more people that were working with us, the more lives we were able to impact. When I got to Getsemani in October 1999 we had about 10 youth in our core group and I was the only youth worker. When I left in October 2005 we had 14 youth workers and we ministered to over 80 youth in the DFW area. There was no way I was going to be able to reach that many youth by myself, and when I left Getsemani the greatest part was that the ministry kept growing. In fact the my last year there we took about 55 to Congreso, the year after I left Getsemani to 75 (that was a little humbling, but in a good way).?The idea Jesse and I had talked about a few months back was not a new way to do ministry, but was the first way of doing ministry that I was taught. As a pastor I am praying how we as a church can be leader makers and multiply the workers that we need. I believe that is the purpose every church and every minister need to focus on. When we do church like this Great Commission won’t be a dream, it will become a reality. Ok it is almost midnight, time for Tiny to let his computer get some rest.

-TINY

In studying about the various theories and models of leadership, such as servant leadership, spiritual leadership, transactional leadership and transformational leadership, I was reminded of the old adage, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  In the exercise of leadership, power is necessary.  So the question for a leader who strives to be a servant and to be spiritual, is how to use that power effectively but keep it in check so that it does not corrupt the leader.

Today, I meditated on Psalm 113:7-8 “He raises the poor from the dust, And lifts the needy from the ash heap.  To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people,” and on Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit.”  Contrast this with Isaiah 57:17 “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid my face and was angry, and he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.”  What a sober reminder of who is the absolute power holder!  What a needed reminder that those of us who exercise any kind of influence do so because the Lord lifted us up!  What a convicting thought it is to remember that God identifies with the lowly and the humble!

I also read an article today in Time magazine entitled ”Why Powerful People Overestimate Themselves.”  (Click here:#mce_temp_url#) I encourage you to read it.  In it the results of a study are reported and briefly analyzed which link power, overconfidence and outcomes (usually extremely good or extremely bad).  Illustrations of these are given in the decisions of presidents and financial gurus on Wall Street.  While it recognizes that often times leaders accomplish significant feats by overconfidence and unilateral decision-making, it warns that unchecked, this can lead to failure also.  One suggestion the article makes is the discipline of considering pros and cons of the decision in collaboration with others, even with those who are not in our “party.”  This to me is a key of collaborative, servant leadership.  Bold decisions and initiatives best serve the people we lead when they are discussed in a team setting and in a disciplined way.  If legacy is our concern, then collaboration should be part of our strategy.  If power is our concern, then we must beware that it does not consume us and ultimately be our downfall.

Of course, the part that the article does not touch is the spiritual aspect.  The Scripture (see references above) reminds us that God is the one who lifts people up and who tears them down.  Thus, as leaders, we must submit our power and influence to Christ’s lordship.  We do this by a daily attitude of brokenness and humility before him.  We do this by not ignoring the lowly around us.  God notices them!  Is it possible to do this and to be effective and influential leaders?  Jesus did it!