On Saturday, I learned that my former pastor, Dr. Rudy Sanchez passed away in Dallas, Texas. He served as pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista (First Mexican Baptist Church) of Corpus Christi, Dallas, Bryan, and Trinity Baptist Church of Houston. He is survived by his wife Ruth, two daughters: Rhoda (Rev. Vincent Gonzales) and Rebekah (Chris Layne) and three sons: Reggie Sánchez, Scottie Sánchez, and Herman Splatt.

Dr. Rudy Sanchez

The Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 7pm at Northway Baptist Church in Dallas and an Interment Service will be held at 10 am on Friday, February 13th at Rest Land Cemetery in Dallas.

I would not normally write about a personal friend on this blog. However, Bro. Rudy was my pastor when I answered a call to vocational ministry in 1974. I walked forward in the service during a revival to respond to an invitation to vocational ministry. I felt the Lord moving my heart in that service. Bro. Rudy took me under his wing and put me to work, immediately. He affirmed my fragile sense of calling and put me to work taking me at my word and heart. He gave me a responsibility in the children’s ministry, youth ministry and within one year provided an opportunity to preach my first sermon in a public congregational service. If you have heard me preach lately, you have heard me recount that experience. About 34 years have passed by and I am still preaching the same gospel. I am one of many of his sons in the ministry to include Frank Palos, Dr. Gus Reyes, Dr. Delfino Aleman, Joe Rojo, Charlie Diaz, Dr. Ellis Orozco, and the list goes on. There are many who will read this blog and will also add their names to the list of those who were formed for vocational ministry under Dr. Sánchez’ leadership or influenced by his life and ministry.

I have been asked to participate in the funeral services as one of the ministers to remember his life and ministry. Bro. Rudy taught several lessons through his example. He taught me to see the community as his parish rather than merely the congregation that met on Sunday. He demonstrated the value of engaging pastors and priests of other denominations while fiercely advancing the Baptist vision of Kingdom work. He never forgot his life journey as an orphan and found ways to serve the least of these: the orphan, the widow, the poor, the sick, the prisoner, and the oppressed. He taught me how to love the larger Baptist family and demonstrated that you enact change by personal involvement rather than critiquing from a distance. He taught me to expect much from the Texas Baptist Family and to dream for better days to advance the Kingdom. Most of all, he taught me how to be a pastor by taking the time to attend an awards ceremony at my high school Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps. He made time for me. To this day, I remain amazed but remembered how important it was for me to have my pastor there. I tried to replicate that value in my pastoral ministry but I am sure I missed of few of those divine appointments. Please take time to pray for Bro. Rudy’s family: Ruth, Rhoda, Vincent, Rebekah, Reggie, Scottie, Herman and their grandchildren as they remember their dad and grandpa.

Written by: Dr. Albert Reyes

Other articles written on Dr. Rudy Sanchez
Baptist Standard
North Dallas Family

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