Archive for March, 2009

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!

Yesterday was the last day of the 2009 Hispanic Senior Adult Summit.  About 170 Hispanic Senior Adults registered and gathered at the First Mexican Baptist Church of San Antonio for 3 days of fellowship, worship, training and fun.  It was a refreshing time!  I enjoyed spending time with this great group of hermanos, so full of life and love for God and each other.  Many of them have known each other since their youth!!!  Our lives were truly blessed as we served them (Isn’t that always the case?).

The theme for the Summit was “A Cheering Cloud” and was based on Hebrews 12:1-2.  Through seminars, music and sermons, seniors were challenged to serve as witnesses to and supporters of those generations that follow them; to live a legacy worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On Tuesday morning, during the devotional time, participants reflected on the subject of legacy.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines legacy as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor.”  What are we transmitting to today’s generation?  What are they receiving from us?  If I died today, what would I like to be remembered for?

When a trainer is teaching youth how to improve and give their best, he may use three main techniques.  First he says, “Others have done, and you can do it too.”  Second he says, “Just think how much it will help you physically to do this.”  And then he says, “Now, look a others – see how they do it.”

The author of Hebrews in chapter 12 verses 1 & 2 uses these same techniques to encourage us in the Christian race. 

First he says, look at the winners (v. 1a).  The great cloud of witnesses was presented in Hebrews.  They are the heroes of the faith.  Now, the idea was not that these men and women are in heaven watching us, like in a stadium, as we run the race.  The word “witness”, in this context, does not mean “spectators”. 

A martyr is “a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle.”  And the New Testament word for “witness” comes directly from the Greek word for “martyr”.  These people, the cloud of witnesses, the heroes of the faith, are not witnesses of what we are doing; but are giving witness to us that God will help us finish the race.

What a beautiful legacy!  Telling others, “Others have done it, you can do it too.  I have done it, you can do it too.  The Lord is with you!  You are not alone.”  When was the last time you shared these words with a younger Christian?

Secondly, he says look at yourself (v. 1b).  Athletes used to wear training weights to help them prepare for events.  No athlete would compete using the weights since they knew they would only slow them down.  Also, too much weight would affect the runners endurance. 

As part of the legacy that we leave those that follow us, it is necessary that we get to the point of sharing with others where we have failed and encourage them not to make our same mistakes.  For this, we must be honest about our weaknesses, and have a heart full of love and compassion for those younger than us.

Lastly, he says look at Christ (v. 2).  Why must we look at Christ?  Because he is our supreme example, and He is the only one that can make it possible for us to finish the race.  

Some say: “It is not how you finish that matters, but how you live.”  This I heard said of Ray Combs, the host of the show Family Feud from 1988 to 1994, who committed suicide in 1996 after several business failures.  He had done many good works during his life, and somehow they were supposed to eclipse the manner of his death.  Others say: “It is not how you live that matters, but how you finish.”  Have you ever heard someone say this?  “I’ll live my life however I want to.  I’ll make Christ my Lord when I’m old or about to die, and then do the right thing.”

These two ways of thinking are wrong.  It is equally important how we live and how we finish.  Why?  Because how we live and how we finish is part of our legacy to those that come behind us.

We must constantly, every minute of our lives, point others through Christ through our words and our actions.  He is the supreme example and has all the power to help us finish the race victoriously.   

Louis Pasteur, the pioneer of immunology, lived in a time where thousands of people were dying of rabies every year.  Pasteur had worked on a vaccine for years.  When he was about to begin experimenting on himself, a nine year old boy, Joseph Meister, was mauled by a rabid dog.  The boy’s mom asked Pasteur to experiment on her son, but he struggled with the decision.  Experimenting on Joseph involved significant personal risk since he didn’t have a license to practice medicine and he could face criminal charges if something went wrong.  But after seeking counsel from his colleagues, Pasteur proceeded to inject Joseph with the vaccine.  After 10 days, the boy lived.  

Decades later, among all the things that Pasteur could have asked to be put on his headstone, he only asked for three words: Joseph Meister Lived.  All he wanted to be remembered for was that Joseph Meister lived.

Truly, the greatest legacy we can leave behind is those that live eternally, those whose lives are transformed because of us.

I know that most of us are not senior adults, but without a doubt, we are all aging everyday and everyday are getting closer to our death.  With that in mind, what do you want to be remembered for the most?  We will all leave a legacy.  The question is, what kind would it be? 

While Sprint and Verizon have been arguing over who has the largest 3G cellular network, Hispanic Baptists must make serious strides to develop their own “3G  network” – one that will minister to third-generation Hispanics and beyond.

The Numbers

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, second and third-generation Hispanics currently make up 60% of the total Hispanic population.  By the year 2020, they will comprise 66% of the Hispanic population.
For Texas, this means that of the 9 million Hispanics in the state, about 6 million of them are second or third-generation.

The Language

A 2007 report of the Pew Hispanic Center showed that “fewer than one-in-four (23%) Latino immigrants reports being able to speak English very well.”  Among second-generation Hispanics, the number increases to 88%.

A full 71 percent of third-generation Hispanics over age 18 claimed English as their dominant language.  Twenty-seven percent claimed to be bilingual.  By this third generation, only 2 percent spoke primarily Spanish.  This is according to a report from the American Political Science Association.

For Texas Baptists, this means that English can be used to reach out to about 88% of second-generation Hispanics and an astounding 98% of third-generation Hispanics.

The Need

As Hispanic Texas Baptists, we find ourselves facing an amazing paradox.  We are linguistically and culturally poised to make a dramatic impact in the communities that are experiencing an increasing Hispanic influence around our state and the nation.  At the same time, we face a leadership crisis.

Hispanic Baptist leaders can tell you how states like Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee, among many others, are increasingly coming to Texas to seek out Spanish-speaking Baptist pastors and ministers.  This means our 300 or so pastor-less Hispanic churches are competing with higher-paying conventions and associations from other states.  In the face of need at home, we are increasingly exporting ministerial talent.

When it comes to third-generation Hispanics, this leadership vacuum is at exponential levels.  We are told that 66% of Texas Hispanic churches minister primarily in Spanish and 33% minister bilingually from the pulpit.  Only 1% of the approximately 1,400 Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas are ministering in English. 

This means that less than 15 Hispanic Baptist churches in the entire state are working to reach the nearly 6 million second and third-generation Hispanics in the state!

The New 3G Network

Thanks to the Convención officers and Rolando Rodriguez at the BGCT’s Office of Hispanic Ministries, Convención 2009 will serve to initiate this much needed network of churches, pastors, leaders and communicators that minister to third-generation Hispanics.

Your input in the form of ideas and recommendations for this time is greatly appreciated.  To share about your “3G Ministry,” your interest and ideas, post comments here or email them to us using the contact form here.

It’s time to build the largest 3G Network in the United States!

Rev. Jesse Rincones serves as pastor of Alliance Baptist Church in Lubbock. You can also find this article in the March 2009 edition of La Vision.

Perhaps I am getting too nostalgic in my old age and I begin to pay more attention to dates, anniversaries, funerals and the like.  But several events have caused me to reflect recently.  Forgive me if I sound a bit melodramatic, but it feels to me like the passing away of Bro. Rudy Sanchez signals the end of an era.  At the same time our youth and singles CONGRESO celebrates its 45th anniversary.  This is a whole generation!  I am humbled by the reminder that I was called to ministry at the 1982 Congreso (27 years ago) and that I was licensed to the ministry shortly after High School graduation in 1984 (25 years ago).  Interestingly, the same month and year I was licensed to the ministry at the age of 19, my friend Frank Palos began his ministry at the BGCT.  As the longest tenured Hispanic employee of the BGCT, he has recently been recognized for his 25 years of service.  These events bring, for me at least, to the forefront several topics of discussion regarding the legacy or legacies that we have been left and that are passing on.

One of those topics for me is that of mentoring.  Who has mentored us?  Who have we mentored?  How significant has this been?  How important should it remain as we pass the baton to the next generation?

 Another topic is how outward-focused were our churches and events a generation ago?  How was the evangelistic fervor evident 25 to 45 years ago?  (It seems to me that it was a primary focus of our work but I may be mistaken)  How have we grown in that?  Have we become more outward-focused than a generation ago or has the opposite happened?

What about youth?  How important was youth ministry in our Hispanic churches in those years?  How were these youth integrated in the overall fabric of our churches and Baptist work in general?  How many of our current pastors and leaders were produced by the youth ministries of that era?  Was this effective?  If so, in which ways?

What about cross-cultural ministry?  How were the leaders of our Hispanic Baptist work in Texas of a generation ago innovative and effective in cross-cultural ministry or not?  How far have we come in this respect?  

Lastly, how were our leaders of a generation ago visionary in respect to cross-vocational domain networking?  In other words, how were they able to see the impact that their youth could make for the kingdom, not only through being pastors and missionaries but also doctors, lawyers, teachers, counselors, social workers, etc. etc.  I understand that one of the early purposes of Congreso was to encourage our youth and singles to pursue higher education and to be encouraged in their quest for professional careers so that we could multiply the leadership base of the church’s next generation?  Where are we today in this respect?

I would like to invite our writers to post on any of these topics or other related topics in the next few weeks.  The posts may be reflections, memoirs, or suggestions.

Julio Guarneri

Getsemani, Fort Worth