SPANISH MISSION
In June, 1993, Calvary began regular
contributions/support of the Evant Baptist Spanish Mission--Primero
Iglesia Emanuel. Joel Morin was invited to use space in Calvary Baptist
Church for a Hamilton Bible Study for Hispanics. On 3 October, 1993,
Calvary voted to become the host church for Spanish Mission work in
Hamilton. Rev. Morin held a planning meeting on December 2, 1993, with the
men of Calvary. Angie Cook, B. C. Martin, Benny Williams, Ricky Enriquez,
and Harold Partain formed the Spanish Mission Committee. Bro. Morin and
his family came each Sunday for services for three months before anyone
else came. On Sunday, February 13, 1994, sixteen people came for services.
Jerry Stratton, Director of Missions, Tri-River Baptist Area, presented on
13 April, 1994, the Spanish Plan Sponsorship of the Cooperative Agreement
which involved the BGCT, Director of Missions, Calvary Baptist, and the
Spanish Mission. Calvary voted to accept this agreement. In May, 1994, the
church building used by Agee Baptist Church became available for use for
the Spanish Mission. Use of this building allowed the Mission to have a
regular morning service rather than an afternoon meeting. Calvary paid the
electric bill for the Spanish Mission’s use of the Agee Church. Bautista
Iglesia Neuva Vision was dedicated on August 14, 1994. The first baptismal
service was held August 21, 1994, at Calvary. One of the extra podiums
(pulpits) was given to Bautista Nueva Vision Church for their use.
(Perhaps this was the pulpit given in memory of William Lewis Rodgers?)
In 1994 Joel Morin (Hispanic Missions
Coordinator for Tri-Rivers Area) was pastor of Bautista Nueva Vision
Iglesia, mission church at Calvary. Nueva Vision reported 3 baptisms, 12
members, and total receipts of $423. Ruben Rios was called as pastor of
Calvary’s mission, Nueva Vision on 14 December, 1994, and of Buen
Spanish Mission sponsored by Trinity Baptist Church in Gatesville. He
assumed his pastoral duties on 15 January, 1995. In 1995 there were 2
baptisms and a membership of 10. The Spanish Mission requested permission
on 21 November, 1995, to meet and to hold services in a room of Calvary
Baptist Church. Permission was granted.
Calvary relinquished the Spanish Mission
at Agee (Nueva Vision Iglesia) 28 July, 1996, to sponsor the mission in
Hamilton, Iglesia Bautista Calvario/Calvario Bautista Mission with Ruben
Rios continuing as pastor. This mission reported 4 baptisms and 19 members
in 1996.