Texas Baptists welcomes Irene Gallegos as Hunger and Care Ministries Director

The Christian Life Commission (CLC) is pleased to announce Irene Gallegos as the new director of Hunger and Care Ministries.

“Dr. Gallegos’ background in public health and her passion and love for God and ministry make her uniquely prepared as she leads Texas Baptists to minister to those in need both in Texas and the world,” Katie Frugé, director of the Center for Cultural Engagement and the CLC, said. “I am thrilled to have her join our team.”

Gallegos comes to her new role with a strong background in finance, public health and ministry. She most recently served as the Hispanic Women’s Ministry Specialist for Texas Baptists, where she cultivated and supported networks of local Women’s ministry leaders and consulted with church leaders to improve church health in the area of Hispanic Women’s Ministry. Her other roles have included serving as a treasurer at Getsemani Baptist Church in Fort Worth, a bilingual health advocate at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and an adjunct assistant professor at The University of Texas in Arlington.

In her new role as director of Hunger and Care Ministries, Gallegos will oversee the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, a ministry seeking to break the cycle of poverty and hunger and promote holistic transformation in the name of Jesus. She will also oversee the Care Development ministry, which provides grants to ministries seeking to provide humanitarian relief work outside of the hunger realm, such as supporting human trafficking survivors or creating sustainable jobs.

“I’m excited to continue the great work of the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, to extend into new resources for the Offering, and to connect with more churches and ministry recipients as well,” Gallegos said. “I am also excited to keep on expanding the community development ministry as it continues to make a tremendous impact.”

Gallegos obtained her Bachelor of Science from Dallas Baptist University and her Master of Public Health in Behavioral & Community Health from the University of North Texas Health

Science Center. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Studies from Texas Woman’s University.

“With this position, I’m able to bring every skill and all the knowledge I have to the table. I feel like this role allows me to best serve Texas Baptists because of my public health background and finance background,” she shared. “The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering has an outstanding history with lots of both donors and recipients from the Offering. I am excited to continue that tradition.”