Baptist conventions in the state of Texas

By: Clara Molina, Women Ministry Team Director for the HBN

There are three different Baptist conventions in the state of Texas: the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas (HBCT), led by Jesse Rincones (JD); the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), led by Dr. Nathan Lorick; and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), now known as Texas Baptists, led by Dr. Julio Guaneri.

When considering the number of Hispanics in the state of Texas and the approximately 1,300 Spanish-speaking churches, there is plenty of work for all these conventions because, according to the U.S. Census, 40.9% of the 31.7 million people living in Texas are Hispanic.

The history of Baptists in Texas began when Pastor Thomas M. Westrup established the first Baptist church in the city of Laredo in 1883. The Hispanic Baptist presence, in the form of churches, grew to such an extent that, in 1910, representatives of those churches met in San Antonio, Texas, and founded the Mexican Baptist Convention of Texas, which was later renamed the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas in 1996.

In 1963, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas became a department of the BGCT; however, in 2010, upon marking its 100-year anniversary, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas regained its independence as a convention separate from the General Convention of Texas (BGCT).

In January 2013, Jesse Rincones was appointed Executive Director of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas; he led Convención to become a non-profit corporation in 2014, obtaining 501(c)(3) status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The “Convención”, as it is known in the state of Texas, is a bilingual Baptist organization that has launched various initiatives over the years such as Connection for pastors and the Canta project, which is dedicated to revitalizing children’s worship.

One of the standout ministries within Convención, which takes a unique approach to ministering to Latino youth and received a $50,000 grant for this purpose, is the Youth Latino Leadership Development Initiative. Its goal is to engage emerging young Latino leaders through a leadership development experience, encompassing both personal and professional growth, that is culturally unique and relevant to their Hispanic Baptist heritage and their calling.

For young women, there is Shine Girls, and for women, Latina Ministries, both under the leadership of Brenda Rincones. The Convention also has other ministries specifically dedicated to serving the diverse community of Spanish speakers living in the state.

“I am so grateful for the amazing opportunity that I have to serve the almost 1,100 Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas. God has provided us with a great team of people who also have a love for our churches, the King, and His Kingdom. I look forward to including more next-gen leaders in our leadership, increasing our Young Latino Leaders’ Program, and expanding resources for children.”

Rincones also serves as a lead pastor at Alliance Church in Lubbock, Texas, and is the Chairman of the Board for the Hispanic Baptist Network (redbh.org). For more information about the CBHT, visit: https://www.convencionbautista.org/