I graduated from SWBTS in 1992. In 1994 a few of us started meeting every year to “think together” on the issues that affected Hispanos.  We called it Network 2000 because that’s all it was … a loose network of friends who enjoyed thinking and talking about the same things … and because we planned on meeting only until the year 2000.  It’s been a while. I’m excited about thinking together again with my old friends from Network 2000 and with a bunch of new friends. 

After seminary I pastored a bilingual congregation in Corpus Christi for seven years.  I was active in the work of Convencion, Congreso, Hispanic Youth Camp, Hispanic Singles Camp, etc.  Over the last eight years I have pastored a wonderful congregation in McAllen that is predominately Anglo-American (95% when I got here).  I’ve been pretty much consumed with learning how to be the pastor of a church that is very different from what I had previously experienced.  All this to say … I feel somewhat “out of touch” with what is happening in the “Hispanic Baptist” world.  I continue to go to Convencion … but I still feel out of touch. 

For this reason … I will probably have a lot more questions than answers or advice.  I would love to get straight to the questions (always a good way to get a conversation started) … but feel a need to catch up with old friends … and get to know my knew friends a little better.  For this reason I’d like to ask each of the writers on this blog to please give me a brief synopsis of your life, call, and ministry experience.  It would really help me on the journey we are taking together …

I’ll be glad to start …

My name is Eleazar (Ellis) Orozco. I was born in Houston, Texas on October 4, 1961 to Antonio Alvardo Orozco and Carmen Flores Orozco.  My father was originally from Monterrey, and my mother from Houston.  I accepted the Lord as my Savior at the age of 14 and was baptized in the church I grew up in, Templo Bautista, South Houston.  I graduated from South Houston High School, where I played football, ran track, and chased cheerleaders (I didn’t catch very many).  I graduated from Texas A&M University (where they don’t have cheerleaders) with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.  I worked as an Engineer in Houston for a few years before God called me to ministry.  I earned an M.Div. from SWBTS and a D.Min. from Truett Seminary. 

I met my wife Priscilla (Castro) Orozco while I was at SWBTS. She graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Elementary Education.  She is a school teacher.  Her father is a retired pastor (Marcos Castro) and her mother, Ruby, went to be with the Lord when Priscilla was only 12 years old.  My wife comes from a wonderful Christian family and I am truly blessed that she married me.  We have three children … Gabriel (15), Michael (10), and Celeste (9).  Gabriel is a freshmen in high schoold and is beginning to carry on the legacy of chasing cheerleaders.  I think he’s going to catch a lot more than I did.  Michael is brilliant, and Celeste is beautiful (like her mother). 

Along the way I was Youth Minister at … Templo Bautista (South Houston), Primera Iglesia Bautista (Fort Worth), and Iglesia Bautista Getsemani (Fort Worth) – B.J. (before julio).  I’ve pastored two churches: Iglesia Bautista Gollihar (Corpus Christi) for 7 years, and Calvary Baptist Church (McAllen) for the last 8 years.  They are both wonderful churches with some of the greatest Christians I have ever met.  Calvary has some of the strongest and most brilliant leaders in the entire Valley.  I am truly lucky to be their pastor.

I look forward to reading a little about each of you. 

Blessings,

Ellis

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