Calvary is blessed to currently have four pastoral ministry interns. These young men are both currently living out their call to ministry while continuing to sharpen their skills. They are disciple-makers who have been discipled by others and continued to be in accountability under the mentorship of Calvary McAllen pastors. I share with you some brief information about each of them.
Josh Rainha
Josh Rainha, a McAllen native, has been a part of our student ministry since he was in Middle School. Josh received a Bachelor degree in Communications Studies from UTRGV (Edinburg) in December of 2019 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry at Stark College and Seminary (McAllen/Corpus Christi).
Rainha is currently the worship leader for our Classic service (9:30 AM) where he is doing a great job. He is also an active part of our Calvary preaching team, which consists of about 10 members preaching in either our English or Spanish services. Josh preached his first Sunday sermon to the Calvary congregation this past August 9 and God used him greatly. His ministry interests include pastoral, student, missions, music and worship and campus ministry.
Josh is also currently a campus missionary intern with the Baptist Student Ministry at UTRGV. Josh has participated with Calvary in our mission trips to the Philippines. We are thankful for this young man's call and ministry as a disciple-maker.
Eli Garza
Eliezer (Eli) Garza came to Calvary during his early college career through the Baptist Student Ministry at UTRGV. Originally from Los Fresnos, Eli received a Bachelor in Communications degree from UTRGV (Edinburg) in 2018 and is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies from Liberty University (online).
Garza is currently the ministry assistant in Calvary's student ministry. However, as he and Pastor Marcus have worked together, he is being mentored as an associate in student ministry and doing very well. In addition, Eli occasionally leads worship in both our English and Spanish services, in young adults gatherings, and in Remedy. Garza has participated with Calvary in our mission trips to the Philippines. Eli is also in the leadership team at the Baptist Student Ministry in UTRGV.
Eli's ministry interests include pastoral ministry, student ministry, music and worship, worship/video production, counseling and college campus ministry. Recently Eli and Frank have launched a weekly podcast called Gen Talk, produced at Calvary and geared to our college students. Eli has a servant heart and a teachable spirit. He is a disciple-maker who glorifies God and blesses our church.
Frank and Zaira San Martín
Frank and Zaira San Martin came in contact with Calvary during their college years. Frank received a Bachelor in Business Management from UTPA (Edinburg) in 2013. He formerly served as the youth pastor at Conway Baptist Church in Mission, Texas and works currently full-time as vice-president for grants with Hollis Rutledge and Associates.
Frank and Zaira minister together as a couple to our Calvary Young Adults. Under the pastoral leadership of Marcus Rodriguez, Frank and Zaira have hosted home groups, lead an exciting and relevant monthly zoom meeting, and mobilize young adults for ministry and missions. Frank has also occasionally led worship in both our English and Spanish services. As mentioned above he and Eli have launched a weekly podcast called Gen Talk.
Frank's interests in ministry include pastoral, student, counseling, music and worship and campus ministry.
Frank and Zaira were active in the Baptist Student Ministry on their campus during their college years participating in leadership, evangelism, worship and missions. Frank continues to have a rich ministry network in the upper valley allowing Calvary to have a broader reach. We are grateful for the wonderful contribution these two disciple-makers have made to the work of the kingdom through Calvary.
Osbaldo and Yarely Gámez
Osbaldo and Yarely Gámez came to Calvary during their time at the Rio Grande Bible College through our Spanish ministry. They live in Reynosa and commute to McAllen to serve and fellowship at Calvary (of course, during this pandemic the border has been closed for them and their participation has been virtual).
Osbaldo received a Bachelor degree from the Rio Grande Bible Institute (Edinburg) in May of 2017. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and in Worship from Dallas Baptist University (online).
Osbaldo and Yarely have served in our worship ministry in both English and Spanish services. Osbaldo has led worship in the Spanish service numerous times both in person and virtually. Gámez is part of the 10-member preaching team that has been preaching in either the English or Spanish services. Osbaldo recently preached in the Spanish service livestream from his home in Reynosa and is scheduled to do so again at the end of this month.
In addition Osbaldo has taught in our Spanish-language "Instituto de Capacitación Calvary" (Calvary's Equipping Institute). After Hurricane Hannah's devastation in Reynosa, Osbaldo and Yarely have been instrumental in mobilizing people and resources to offer humanitarian relief while sharing the gospel in various parts of the city. We are currently in conversations about his role in helping us plant house churches in Reynosa.
Osbaldo's ministry interests include music and worship, student, missions, preaching, and pastoral care/chaplaincy. What a privilege to have this gifted couple, along with the baby they are expecting, ministering among us. Yet another excellent example of disciple-makers.
Our pastoral ministry intern program provides mentorship and on-the-job-training to those who are following God's call for vocational ministry. Shaped by the Holy Spirit these disciple-makers can reflect Christ in both character and competency. It is our desire that these well-rounded ministers be prepared in mind, heart, and hands to serve as either volunteers, bi-vocational ministers, pastors, missionaries or church planters wherever God leads them.
This is one way in which we fulfill our purpose of making disciple-makers for the glory of God among the nations. These leaders may either become candidates for future staff positions that become vacant at Calvary, or they may be sent out by Calvary on mission, or they may be called by another church where they will continue to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. We are blessed to have a small part in that.
As a Kingdom-minded church, we are also grateful for our partnership with UTRGV's Baptist Student Ministry, with Stark College and Seminary and with Rio Grande Bible College.
Historical footnote: Rolando Aguirre and Marcus Rodriguez were pastoral interns at Calvary about twelve years ago. What a blessing they have been to us and what a privilege it has been to help shape them into the ministers they are today.
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