San Antonio Region Justice for Our Neighbors Ministry Begins

The San Antonio Region Justice for Our Neighbors is one of a nation-wide organization operating at 30 different locations throughout the country with the mission of "providing affordable, high-quality immigration services to low-income immigrants." More information is available at their website, sarjfon.org or by calling 210-847-7245.

Click here for more information about SARJFON

Rev. Dr. Ruben Saenz, Jr. Elected to Office of Bishop

Rev. Dr. Ruben Saenz, Jr. has been elected to the office of bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. Saenz was elected on the third round of balloting at the conference being held in Wichita, Kansas.

Until his election, Saenz served the Rio Texas Director of Connectional Ministries and the Executive Director of the Mission Vitality Center, developing systems and programs that help local churches reach the rapidly changing mission field. Saenz has a passion for creating new places to reach new people with the Gospel. Prior to this, Saenz served as the Director of New Church Development for the Southwest Texas Conference. During his four years, he successfully implemented the Healthy Church Initiative and resourced districts and local churches to start 11 new faith communities. He was also an integral part of the team that created the unification plan that led to the merger of the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande annual conferences.

Prior to his conference level work, Dr. Saenz demonstrated his ability to bring vitality and growth to the local church through reaching out to the community by raising and training lay leadership.  Under his leadership, 345 persons were incorporated into the congregational life of La Trinidad/El Divino Redentor, El Paso (65) and El Buen Pastor, Edinburg (275) by profession of faith and baptism during Saenz’s 14-year tenure at both appointments. During his tenure, he led his congregations to address the issues of generational, social, and systemic poverty that plague the region. The average worship attendance at his La Trinidad / El Divino Redentor two-point charge grew by 200% in four years and at El Buen Pastor, worship attendance grew by 150% over ten years. Giving increased by over 300% in both appointments as well.  

Saenz is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and received his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry degrees from SMU Perkins School of Theology. He has been married to Maye for 34 years; they have four children, all of which are active in the life of the church with his two sons Aaron and Ruben III serving in the Rio Texas Conference.

Bishop Saenz will receive his first assignment as a bishop later this week when the Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee meets.

Texas United Methodist College Association (TUMCA)

Darrell Loyless, Ph.D., introduces the Texas United Methodist College Association to the Rio Texas Conference. 

All Rights Reserved. Rio Texas Annual Conference. United Methodist Church. June 2016. 

I’m fond of saying that two of the oldest institutions in Western Civilization are the church and the university.

Hand in hand they have sought to provide the knowledge and seek the truth that the Scriptures tell us will set us free.

In that regard, the Texas United Methodist College Association or what we fondly call “TUMCA,” has been the organization that has helped facilitate that relationship through scholarships.

Through the generous gifts of our conferences and the churches that make them up, TUMCA has sought to open the doors of our colleges and universities with scholarship grants.

These resources are used to make possible an education for individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford a Methodist-related college education.  So we see them going to our universities and in many cases learning leadership skills, a profession, but I think equally important, they are given the opportunity to search their own minds and hearts and discover what their true values are.

Often times, this discovery strengthens them in their spiritual journey.

On behalf of some young man or woman, or maybe yourself, please feel free to contact one of our universities.  Call their financial aid office. They are the ones who set down the guidelines for scholarship awards. 

The only requirement we have is that a candidate for the scholarship be a Methodist in one of our churches.

So, let me thank you for your time, and I look forward possibly to meeting you and talking more about the relationship between the church and our colleges.