OPENING DOORS FOR HISPANIC BAPTISTS
By Rudy Sanchez,
Co-chair, TBC

I am very grateful to our kind Lord for the many years of ministry he has given to me.  My work with churches and my fellow Baptists has been richly rewarding.  While I still feel vibrant and enthusiastic about my continued service to our Savior Jesus Christ, I do not know when I know my health will give way to age.  So there are times when I wish I could be younger because the opportunities for Hispanic Baptists in Texas will significantly grow in the decades to come.

Even now Hispanic Baptists are growing in our influence and responsibilities with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Patty Villarreral being called to serve as Consultant with Church Community Hispanic Ministries is the first Hispanic woman to serve in such a vital ministry position for the BGCT.  Mateo Rendon, past president of the Hispanic Convention, is this years chairman of the Administrative Committee for the BGCT.  Rudy Camacho, president of the Hispanic Convention, will nominate Clyde Glassner to be president of the BGCT at the meeting in El Paso. Lorenzo Pena will be nominated to serve as first vice president at the BGCT meeting in El Paso.  Jimmy Garcia, Ethnic Missions Coordinator for the BGCT will be the featured speaker at the Texas Baptists Committed breakfast in El Paso.

This is only the beginning.  Shared leadership at growing levels of responsibility will continue to grow in the years ahead.  If I were a young Hispanic minister or a layman with a heart for growing Gods kingdom, then I would invest myself in partnering with Baptist General Convention of Texas.  This is the place where God is going to be actively doing something. Now is the time for us to prepare ourselves with education and faithful cooperation.

September 1999