Ministry

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.

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!

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? 

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

I know what you’re thinking, Hispanic Youth Ministry, this should be good. You think that because Hispanic Youth Ministry, depending on the church, is so unorganized that you can only do the best you can.

Don’t get me wrong, I am so thankful for the experience that I had and it was an honor serving Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas and it continues to be that way. Many say that the best way to learn is by doing and that is exactly how I learned to do this type of ministry. In other settings I would not have been able to do what I did the past six years. The reason is because so many churches require a youth leader to have some type of ministry related degree or training or experience for that matter. All I needed to qualify was to be active in the youth group before hand and to be a good responsible person that the “hermanas” can speak for whenever needed. So my calling to ministry was the first step and the second was getting involved in the youth leadership meetings.

Hispanic Youth Ministry does have its weak points but I think its because Hispanics are used to doing things on the fly and last minute. That is why we give people invitations to Quinceanera’s the day before the event. Then call everybody on Saturday to tell them that the location has changed. It’s awesome and informal at the same time.

The best part of Hispanic Youth ministry is also the worst part of youth ministry, the budget. Put a dozen youth ministers in room and ask them about what kind of help they need in their Hispanic church where they serve. I can almost guarantee you that its going to be budget. Once you have a set budget you can do the activities that the youth want to do.

I must admit, the best part of Hispanic Youth Ministry was coming up with activities to do for free. You’d be surprised what youth will do with marshmallows and string. Since youth act up in my lessons I often make them act out verses to get back at them, and they get creative. Maybe it was those dollar cheeseburgers that I would give away to the winning team. Nonetheless it doesn’t take a lot of money to start up a youth ministry inside a Hispanic church. Especially when BaptistWay Press has free bible studies for youth.

To all Hispanic Youth ministers reading this, hang in there and thank you so much for your service in our churches. People are afraid of Hispanic Youth ministry because of all the challenges that come with it but I know that the experience and creativity that I gained is priceless and the many youth who received Christ under my leadership as well.

Blessings!

 It looks like one of our very own authors of Rdestino is going to be speaking at Congreso at Baylor University. His name is Sergio Ramos. Congrats Sergio, I know you are going to be a blessing to our young Hispanic Baptist youth of Texas. If you are a Pastor or Youth leader, the Congreso 2009 website has launched and has all the information that you need for registering your young people for this life changing event.

Keep Congreso in your prayers, many Hispanic students across Texas will attend and make decisions for the Lord. They are the future faces of Hispanics in Texas so lets do what we can to educate them about the Lord and about making right decisions.

-God Bless

Our youth were a part of Congreso this year, and as every year I am always grateful for how God uses this event to impact lives. Our kids and adults came back encouraged, challenged, closer as a group, and sleep deprived (for some reason the only time you’re allowed to sleep at Congreso is the ride up there and the ride back). Several of our youth made commitments and really felt God speaking to them. Thank you Frank and Angie for all your work, may the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry.