ORLANDO – Comprising members from nine different countries, the 11-member board of directors, which sets the strategic vision and governance for the Hispanic Baptist Network (HBN), held its first retreat June 5-6 in Orlando, in anticipation of the network’s major Hispanic celebration and the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.
Led by Jesse Rincones, the board of directors began both days with prayer and devotionals. Rincones is a pastor, the executive director of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and a practicing attorney.
The HBN, which holds 501(c)(3) status, already has representatives in 43 U.S. states, Canada and the Dominican Republic.
“We’re grateful for the service of the directors whose love and service to Hispanic Baptists is evident and appreciated,” Rincones said.
HBN Executive Director Bruno Molina said the positions on the board have been filled with “individuals whose character, experience and commitment will drive the fulfillment of our mission.
“United for His glory as a missionary force, we are excited about the anticipated outcome of our collaboration,” Molina said.
From a swamp to a castle
Emanuel Roque, who serves with the Florida Baptist Convention in the southern part of the state and is the director of state representatives for the HBN, drew from 2 Chronicles 29 to encourage the board members to work for the glory of God with vision and commitment.
Roque shared that while people saw the land where they gathered in central Florida as swamps, the founder of Disney saw much more. “What was simply land of little value – in his creative mind, Disney already saw Cinderella’s castle.”
“So, while the world has had nothing but swamps, God has seen His church in Jesus Christ. The Hispanic Baptist Network represents that; it begins with us, but with the dream of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Roque continued to encourage the leaders, urging them to keep in mind that the work done by the HNB is for the glory of God, while also remembering that the Lord provides for His work and that it is important to call, seek out and incorporate a new generation of leaders.
‘Immense potential’
“There is a Hispanic community with immense potential whom the Lord has used throughout history,” said Ramón Medina, pastor of Champion Forest Church en Español in Houston, Texas, since 2006 and a member of the HBN board of directors.
“The Baptist Network is a miracle of God. Thank you for seeing the potential of the Hispanic Christian community… over the past three years, we have been able to see the Lord’s gracious hand in this ministry. …”
Drawing from Nehemiah 2:17-18, Medica shared that, after much prayer, the network is a dream come true, because prayer coupled with purpose and action is powerful and yields results.
“When we look at Jerusalem, we see fallen walls, burned gates and disheartened people; and when we look at many of our churches today, we find fallen walls, burned gates and a great deal of discouragement,” said Medina.
Observing Spanish-speaking churches, he said: “We look at what is happening; we see that they are just getting by, but the most wonderful thing is that they are there. They are living through that situation, living through the problem, and by the grace of God, they are there.
“Nehemiah didn’t build the wall. They built it together –each family, its section. Each one responsible for their part, yet connected to the whole. … Here lies the heart of the network: no one moves the people alone.”
Medina added that, according to Henry Blackaby, spiritual leadership is “moving a person from where they are to where the Lord wants them to be,” and that by the grace of God, the Hispanic Baptist Network built a bridge to cross over and enable people to do the same, becoming the Nehemiah who saw the people’s need.
“We are not a controlling denomination,” he said. “We are leaders and pastors who walk alongside one another to move more people together toward God’s purposes.”
HBN Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is composed of the following members: Sara Amaya (California), José Arzate (Tennessee), Charles Clark (North Carolina), Jonathan Herrera (California), Zoila López – Vice President (Texas), Mayra Maldonado (Connecticut), Ramon Medina (Texas), Alberto Ocaña (Florida), Nelson Pérez (Louisiana), Jesse Rincones/CEO (Texas), and Rubem Torres (Georgia).
For more information about the network, visit redbh.org and sign up for the monthly newsletter.
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