Supporting Pastor Rolando in New Call

     After approximately twelve years of ministry at Calvary Baptist Church, McAllen, Pastor Rolando Aguirre has accepted a call to serve on the staff of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas.  As we make this announcement today, we experience both joy and sadness.  We love Rolando and it hurts to let him go.  He has been part of our church family and identity.  We are happy for him because we know he is following God's call.  This new opportunity will allow him to use his gifts and talents in the extension of the kingdom of God.

     Since Dr. Aguirre has sought the Lord's leadership in prayer and fasting, and since we understand this to be God's will, we firmly believe that it will be good for his ministry, good for our sister church, Park Cities, and good for Calvary.  If God is in it, then it is good for all of us even if it is not easy on all of us.  We are a kingdom-minded church.  We are committed to God's mission beyond our four walls.

     Needless to say this has not been an easy decision for Rolando and the Aguirre family.  They have grown to love Calvary and the RGV and often saw themselves as staying indefinitely.  However, after many months of sensing God's call, multiple conversations, and much prayer, they are convinced this is what is next in God's plan.

A Growing and Vibrant Ministry at Calvary

     When Pastor Rolando came to Calvary our Spanish language ministry consisted of a handful of people who met in the parlor on Wednesday nights.  Since then God used him to raise a team of leaders, develop multiple Spanish language programs and grow the Sunday morning Spanish language service attendance.  The 12:30 PM service counts with the largest attendance of any of our three Calvary Sunday services.  The WIT en español, Instituto de Capacitación Calvary (our Spanish language training institute on Wednesday nights), Evangelismo Explosivo and outreach programs of the SLM are vibrant and growing.

     Rolando Aguirre's position at Calvary has been Pastor of Spanish Language Ministry and Discipleship Team Leader.  Although most of his responsibilities were in the Spanish language area, he also had church-wide assignments.  He gave leadership to EQUIP and WIT and he supervised Pastors Marcus and Susan.  He served in each of those areas faithfully and with excellence.

     We are so thankful for Dr. Aguirre's leadership and his investment in our congregation.  Calvary is not the same because of his leadership.  Calvary Baptist Church in 2020 is stronger, healthier, more diverse, and overall better!  Members from the Spanish Language Ministry serve in all of our committees and in our deacon body.  People from the Spanish service are a volunteer force that help keep Bread of Life, Children's Ministry, and Fourth of July stay strong.

     As Pastor Rolando exits we are confident that God has raised a ministry with faithful and committed leaders.  The Spanish language ministry is poised for strength and future growth.

Last Sunday and Farewell Reception (February 8 & 9)

     Rolando's last day at Calvary will be Sunday, February 9th.  We will have a commissioning prayer for them at each of our three services on that same Sunday. Bro. Aguirre will begin his transition to Dallas shortly thereafter while Janet and the children remain in the RGV so they can conclude their school year.

     We will have a farewell reception for Rolando and his family on:

Saturday, February 8th at 6:00 PM
in the Student Center.

     Dr. Aguirre's new role at Park Cities Baptist Church Dallas will be Associate Pastor of Teaching and Spanish Language Ministry.  He will have opportunity to preach and teach at the church-wide level but his biggest assignment will be to lead a small Spanish language group within the church to revitalize and grow toward multiplication.  Rolando has shared with the pastoral staff and the Spanish congregation that he feels his gifting is for establishing new ministries and then moving to the next one.  He also has said that missional churches say "good-bye" often.  Sometimes they send others.  Sometimes they are sent.  People in missional churches train, send and are sent.

     Please pray for Pastor Rolando, the Aguirre family and our congregation during this time of transition and trusting the Lord.

Staff Vacancies at Calvary en Español

     There will be future announcements regarding the staff vacancies for Calvary en Español but I share immediate information that is relevant and might answer some questions.

     With Pastor Rolando's exit, we have two staff vacancies in the Spanish Language Ministry:

1. Pastor of Spanish Language Ministry and DT Leader (Full-time)
2. Associate for Spanish Language Ministry (Part-time)

     As we look at our current staff who is spread out thin and the many needs of our Spanish Language congregation, we want to make sure we appropriately staff the ministry.  I have been in consultation with the personnel committee to discuss the steps ahead.

     I have hired Dr. Julio Varela as an Interim Part-Time Associate for Spanish Language Ministry (see #2 above) who will begin his employment at Calvary on January 27.  (This is a position that has been vacant since the spring of 2019).  I will share more about Dr. Varela in upcoming communications.

     Filling the position that Rolando will leave vacant will take sometime.  In the first place, the position will change title and scope.  Pastor Rolando filled a vital role for the first twelve years of Calvary en Español.  However, as we enter 2020 it is a new era for Calvary in general and for Calvary en español in particular.

     As the new position title and description is developed by the Lead Pastor and the personnel committee, and eventually approved by the church, a couple of things will guide us:

1. We will be sensitive to particular needs of the Spanish language ministry and we will provide the leadership and pastoral care it requires to continue to make disciple-makers for the glory of God among the nations;
2. We will seek the health, strength and growth of the entire church.  We are committed to functioning as one church and our pastoral staff team needs to give leadership and provide ministry for both English and Spanish language portions of our church.

     The role that Bro. Aguirre filled preaching in the Spanish service almost every Sunday and caring for all the leadership and pastoral care needs of Calvary en español was unique to his gifting and to the first twelve years of the ministry.  The future will look different.  The pulpit in the Spanish service will be shared by the Lead Pastor and other gifted preachers in our congregation.  The leadership and pastoral care needs will be assigned to specific staff members.  The position title and job description of the next pastor that joins our team will be different than that of Pastor Rolando.

     We will communicate at important junctures and bring a recommendation to the Church in Conference at the right time.

     Please pray for our pastoral staff team, the personnel committee and the Spanish language congregation as we follow the Holy Spirit faithfully.