(Today I have asked Rev. Rolando Rodriguez, Director of Hispanic Ministries for the BGCT to reflect on the future of the Hispanic Baptist Convention on the eve of the 99th annual meeting).
For Moses and the people of Israel, the Promised Land was a land that was richly blessed (Deuteronomy 8:7-10). The Promised Land was a land where "milk and honey" flowed (Deuteronomy 11:9). God did not give them this land just because they were “God’s people”. God demanded a lot from them (Deuteronomy 10:12-22). Just like Moses and Israel we should ask ourselves: are we ready to enter the Promised Land?
La Convencion Bautista Hispana de Texas (The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas) will be celebrating 99 years of existence, here in Dallas at Park Cities Baptist Church. Next year will be our great celebration “The Centennial."
The question that many leaders throughout the state of Texas ask themselves is: What is the vision of Convención for the following one hundred years? Where are we going? Who will guide us? I would like to share my perspective of the future of Convención.
How did the Promised Land look for Moses? It was a land where "milk and honey" flowed. How does the Promised Land look for Convención? New churches! Not just new churches but healthy churches. Let me describe to you a picture of a healthy church: a healthy church is a church that is reaching souls for Christ; it’s a church that is developing leaders that are willing to make a difference; it’s a church that is constantly baptizing people; it’s a church that supports their pastor in every sense of the Word; it’s a church that cares about the missionary work throughout the world; it’s a church that worries about the oppressed (Deuteronomy 10:18); it’s a church that gives in a sacrificial way; it’s a church that cooperates with other churches, associations, conventions and other institutions that want to serve those that are oppressed. A healthy church is a church that is impacting its community, its city, the nation and the entire world.
Churches like these can form a Great Convención. A Convención that is going to build bridges. A Convención that is ready to begin new institutions. A Convención that is part of the Baptist World Alliance because they have so much to contribute.
Let me finish with a personal experience. I remember as if it was yesterday that we were playing a championship soccer game. In the last minutes of the game our team scored a goal. We begin to celebrate because we knew we had the victory. We celebrated so much that the other team came back and scored a goal. In the end we lost the game and the championship. I give thanks to God for a hundred years of our beloved Convención. Let’s celebrate, yes, but let’s not put our guard down. Adelante Bautistas Hispanos (Press on Hispanic Baptist!)
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