Texas church’s Hispanic ministry opening doors, HBCU students experience international missions, Lessons from 13 years in pastoral ministry

Good News for Today

Erika Meza prayed for nine years for her husband Luis to come to faith in Jesus. Initially resistant, Luis felt a change after a personal invitation from Hiram Ramos, leader of First Church of Odessa, TX, Hispanic ministry. Luis became a regular attender and after guidance from Pastor Ramos, accepted Jesus during a Good Friday service in 2023. He was the first person baptized at First Odessa en Español.

First Odessa aims to reach the city’s growing Hispanic population, which makes up nearly 60% of the community. / Starting with a Spanish Bible class, they eventually launched a Hispanic church led by Pastor Ramos. Since its first service in December 2023, the church has seen over 50 people come to faith in Christ. They focus on discipleship and meeting the unique needs of bilingual families.

First Odessa en Español continues to grow, united in their mission to spread the Gospel among the Hispanic people of Odessa.

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Chyler Hughes, a student at Lincoln University, recently experienced her first international mission trip to São Paulo, Brazil. Growing up, Hughes had never seen a Black missionary, but through her collegiate ministry, she encountered IMB missionaries Eric and Ramona Reese. The trip opened her eyes to the diversity in missions. Hughes says, “Seeing that representation shows you missions is for everybody.”

Pastor Jon Nelson, who led the group, emphasized the importance of diversity in missions. Nelson pointed out that only 8.4% of missionaries are of African descent. He says, “Some fruit from this trip is just in the way the students [will] see the world now. My students were able to see people that look like them,”

The trip had a profound impact on the students. Hughes herself went from thinking "Somebody else can do missions" to asking, "Why not me?" She now realizes the universal need for Jesus and the importance of spreading the Gospel worldwide.

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Reflecting on 13 years in ministry, Weddington NC, pastor, Jordon Willard shares valuable insights from his ministry journey, documented in the Baptist Press Toolbox. He emphasizes that the church belongs to Jesus, not the pastor and that God's Word is the true transformative power in ministry. Pastor Willard also points out the importance of prioritizing family, studying biblical languages, and having mentors.

Willard says, A long-term perspective in measuring growth and maintaining healthy work-rest patterns are crucial for pastoral longevity, and he states the importance of always remembering that God's approval matters most in ministry.