DALLAS—Texas Baptists recently welcomed four new staff members to the organization including Victor Rodriguez, Hispanic Evangelism director; Ben Hanna, director of San Antonio-Area Baptist Health Initiative; Bruce McCoy, director of the Ambassador Program; and David Adams, a current staff member in a new position, as Adult Discipleship specialist.
Through his role on the Great Commission Team, Rodriguez will work with more than 1,200 Hispanic churches in the Convention to train and equip leaders in evangelism and discipleship. Rodriguez also desires to start a coaching/mentoring program with Hispanic pastors around Texas to intentionally develop church leaders.
Rodriguez served as a pastor for 35 years in San Antonio, including 21 years as pastor of Life Church. He planted two churches in San Antonio during his time in ministry, and served as a bi-vocational minister for many years. Rodriguez’s experience with evangelism and discipleship training within his churches—ranging from 20 to 700 in attendance—will allow him to connect with churches of all sizes and pastors in different stages of ministry.
In February, Hanna stepped into a newly created position funded by a grant Texas Baptists received from the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. As the Director of the San Antonio Area Baptist Health Initiative, Hanna will work directly with pastors in Bexar County and the seven contiguous counties to promote holistic health for the ministers. Hanna will establish “Barnabus networks” to connect pastors for the purpose of encouragement. He will also connect pastors with Convention resources, including financial assistance through the Center for Ministerial Excellence and counseling through Counseling Services. Additionally, through funding from the grant, conferences and retreats on holistic health will be hosted in the San Antonio area for local pastors.
Hanna previously served as a Multi-housing and House Congregation Catalyst through Texas Baptists’ Mission Team. For 10 years, he and his family served on the mission field in Eastern Europe through the International Mission Board. Since 2008, he has been a church planter in the San Antonio area and has also served as a life coach.
McCoy will oversee the new Texas Baptists Ambassador Program, a statewide initiative designed to draw Texas Baptists closer together by networking with pastors, Texas Baptists Area Representatives, and Directors of Missions.
In the early 1990s, McCoy entered the pastorate in Florida, where he hosted more than 900 senior adults every Friday. From 1998-2011, he served as the senior pastor for Canaan Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri. During this time, he also served as President of the Missouri Baptist Convention. He has also served on the staff of two Southern Baptist seminaries.
Adams has joined the Great Commission Team, having previously served as Director of Special Projects. In this role of Adult Discipleship Specialist, he will train and equip church leaders on effective discipleship practices. Adams also coordinates the Leadership Texas Baptists program, which identifies, educates and empowers emerging young leaders around the state.
Prior to joining the Texas Baptists staff in 2011, Adams served churches for 23 years as minister of education and administration, after six years in youth ministry. During his time as Director of Special Projects, Adams assisted many churches with administration needs including bylaws and governance, security and risk management, personnel, volunteers and more.
Texas Baptists is a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love by strengthening churches and ministers, engaging culture and connecting the nations to Jesus.
The ministry of the convention is made possible by giving through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program, Mary Hill Davis Offering® for Texas Missions, Texas Baptists Worldwide and Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. Thank you for your faithful and generous support.
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