Texas Baptists en Español rally celebrates pastors, opportunity to follow Jesus’ agenda

Church leadership and members from Hispanic Baptist churches across Texas gathered Sunday at the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting to encourage one another in the work of their diverse congregations. They were also reminded of Jesus’ agenda in ministry in a message from Dr. Albert Reyes, president and CEO of Buckner International.

Lessons from Jesus’ ministry

Drawing from the passage in Luke 4:14-30 where Jesus reads from the Prophet Isaiah, Reyes said there was much to learn from looking at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

“First, we see that Jesus went to Nazareth to the synagogue to begin his ministry after he had been tempted. Some of your best ministry days will happen after a tough time. Second, He was full of the power of the spirit. If you don’t have the power of the spirit upon you, you have nothing to offer,” Reyes said. “Finally, He starts with the Word of God. If Jesus starts with the Word of God, we need to start with the Word of God.”

Reyes said the passages Jesus chose outlined his agenda clearly. He was anointed to bring good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, bring liberty to the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. 

First, he said he was anointed to “Bring good news to the poor,” which Reyes said points to providing for physical needs that open doors to share hope. 

“When you have redemption, you do have life. [Being in church] puts you in a community where people that see that you don’t have things will see that you do,” he noted, sharing some of his father’s story growing up in poverty.

Reyes also noted that Jesus’ agenda included “healing the brokenhearted” and proclaiming  “freedom for the captives” by offering hope through Jesus Christ. He said that  physical healing was also a part of Jesus’ ministry, noted through his “recovery of sight for the blind.”

Next, Reyes said Jesus sought to bring “liberty to the oppressed,” noting, “If you find someone oppressed, you should help them. The people were oppressed by the Romans… And Jesus said he was coming to help them. They thought they would have an army to conquer them, but that’s not what Jesus was concerned with.”

Instead, he said, Jesus brought spiritual liberty through his death and resurrection, bringing salvation to all who proclaim His name.

Finally, Reyes said Jesus’ agenda included “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” He said the reference was to the year of jubilee when all debts were forgiven and encouraged attendees to count their blessings and the favor the Lord has given.

Reyes noted that Jesus brought the kingdom near by saying what he meant to do, and then doing all those things. He alluded to this when he spoke in the synagogue, saying, “This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” And Reyes said that was not just a future promise.

“The kingdom is here now. Not in the future, not one day. Now. He was announcing a new era,” said Reyes. “I think the kingdom was when Jesus said it was. In the kingdom of God, people get healed, have peace, get blessings and when did that happen? Right then. The kingdom is already and yet to be. You don’t have to wait; you can have it now. He makes all things new on that day that we see him. That’s the someday. But we get to taste it now. Don’t live your life thinking the kingdom is just someday. It’s today.” 

Service recognition and ministry reports

Also at the rally,  Armando Virgen, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Waco for 53 years, received the Gary Cook Leadership Award from Dallas Baptist University for his 61 total years of pastoral ministry.

“We praise God for the countless lives blessed in his ministry,” said Gus Reyes, noting that Virgen baptized more than 450 believers, helped the church build a sanctuary and started an adopt-a-student ministry with colleges. “It is a tremendous blessing to serve in this church, a multilingual and diverse church.”

Though Virgen was unable to attend due to health reasons, his daughter and son-in-law accepted the award, noting that he was honored for the calling to serve in the ministry and was very proud of the honor. 

Vidal Muniz, Texas Baptists en Español specialist, also shared briefly about the PAVE program of church revitalization and recognized pastors who have been participating in that process of helping grow their congregations.

Rene Maciel, missions pastor at First Baptist Church of Woodway, shared about “Esperanza de Dios,” his church’s three-year effort to reach the community by sharing hope. Maciel noted that the church has immersed the community through messages of hope and practical ministry in the area.

“Everything we do, we have a chance to be involved in the community, like our laundry ministry,” noted Maciel. “We go into the laundromat and pay for their laundry, and we take drinks and snacks, sit around and just talk to people. It’s not about us, but God opens doors and conversations where they ask what we are doing. We want to love our community.”

“Everything we do when we visit is to share the hope of God. It’s about the church of Jesus Christ being present,” added Maciel.

The event closed with a prayer over all pastors present, led by Victor Rodriguez, Hispanic Evangelism associate/Discipleship specialist for Texas Baptists.