ORLANDO (BP) – Hispanic Southern Baptists gathered at First Orlando to celebrate what God is doing through their ministries and churches. The event drew approximately 1,200 people and began with food trucks and bounce houses outside before moving indoors for worship, seven baptisms, a call to salvation and a renewed commitment to ministry.
Organized by the Hispanic Baptist Network under the theme “United for His Glory,” the celebration was intended to encourage and strengthen Hispanic Southern Baptists, said Vernig Suarez, president of the network.
Photo by Roy Burroughs
Guillermo Corredera, pastor of Prestonwood Español in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, delivered a message on unity from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
“There are three dimensions Christians need to look at if we are to be united,” Corredera said. “We must look around, look within and look upward.”
“As brothers and sisters, as churches, as conventions and associations, we must be clearly united under the calling to share Christ. This is only achieved when we set aside our desire to be the protagonist and focus instead on being part of the team.”
Corredera said that true unity begins with a life nourished by Christ.
“It’s hard to be part of a team that includes people you don’t like if you aren’t nourished by Christ,” he said, calling believers to humility, gentleness, patience and love.
“When we walk as one, nourished by Christ, everything points to the glory of God.”
Following the sermon, Corredera extended a four-fold invitation, calling forward those who had not yet trusted Christ for salvation, those seeking reconciliation and forgiveness, those wanting to renew their commitment to ministry, and those sensing God’s call but unsure of their next steps. Thirty people responded.
During the gathering, the Hispanic Baptist Network and Dallas Baptist University honored Frank Moreno for more than 40 years of ministry in Baptist life.
Emanuel Roque, southeast regional catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention, highlighted Moreno’s role in launching language church planting efforts throughout Florida. Moreno was also recognized for his investment in training and equipping future pastors and preachers.
“I receive this recognition with humility and gratitude,” Moreno said. “Glory be to God for revealing Himself throughout these decades of ministry. I am thankful for my wife, Magdalena, who led me to the Lord when I was 16 years old. She has been a faithful partner in the calling God placed on our lives.”
As is customary, Southern Baptist Convention leaders also brought greetings to those gathered.
Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, thanked Hispanic Southern Baptists for their ministry and recognized Bruno Molina, executive director of the Hispanic Baptist Network, for his role in drafting a resolution titled “On Immigration, Human Dignity and the Rule of Law,” which messengers to the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting will vote on this week.
The resolution calls for “support for lawful immigration enforcement carried out justly, humanely, and according to due process, including the removal of those whom the government duly prioritizes for deportation and accountability for criminal activity, human trafficking, and unlawful employment practices.” It also calls for the rejection of “nativism, racial or ethnic hostility, ethno-nationalism, discrimination, and all ideologies or rhetoric that deny the equal worth and dignity of any people group regardless of immigration status, while also affirming that Christian compassion and hospitality do not negate lawful order or excuse indifference to public justice and social peace.”
Iorg encouraged attendees to register as messengers and participate in the SBC Annual Meeting, where the resolution would be considered.
He also expressed a desire to see greater Hispanic representation in Southern Baptist leadership.
“Help us find qualified people to serve in these roles,” Iorg said. “Look beyond pastors. We need lawyers, human resource specialists, and others who can help lead our Convention.”
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