|
We, the organizers of Gulf Coast Bible Conference or
Conferencias Bíblicas del Golfo, are members of the Church
of Christ in the Houston area. The event is annually planned
and held on the Independence Day’s weekend with the purpose of
preaching the Word of God among the Hispanics.
History of the CBG
A
bilingual bible conference started at Lake Jackson Church of
Christ in 1983. The activity was more of a local effort,
planned, directed, and carried through the Lake Jackson Church
of Christ and its Hispanic minister Agustin Figueroa.
In 1985, brother Agustin informed the leaders of the Hispanic
church that the conference would no longer be held at the Lake
Jackson church. Later that year, ministers from different
churches gathered together to discuss the importance of
continuing the activity. A committee was formed with Hispanic
ministers and leaders around the Houston area. That committee
planned, directed, and carried a much bigger event with a
different name, program, emphasis, and purpose. The Westbury
Church of Christ’s elders accepted the challenge of sponsoring
and hosting the new event for the first time in July of 1986.
It was the birth of the Conferencias Bíblicas del Golfo
(Gulf Coast Bible Conference).
The attendance at the C.B.G. has been great every year,
from the minimum of 600 to the maximum of 1,000.
During
the conference, different classes meet daily. Ladies, men,
youth, non-members, and especially children receive the Bible
teachings according to their needs. The conference has two
purposes - one is to win souls for our God’s glory and secondly
to train and strengthen our brotherhood in the faith of our Lord
Jesus Christ. We have baptisms every year from a minimum of 10
to a maximum of 40.
During the Conference, we provide food for all attendees.
Pasadena church has done an outstanding job almost every year
with the preparation of food and they have been assisted by
members of different congregations help in this important task.
Bringing
brothers and sisters from Mexico is another important task, but
a very rewarding experience. Every year, close to 100 people
from the neighboring country attend the conference. Federico
Rodriguez from Cleveland and Alejandro Arango from Impact are
responsible for the transportation team. They have done a
wonderful job with the help of drivers from other Hispanic
congregations. Different Anglo churches have provided with vans
and sometimes even with buses.
The
conference is supported by several churches in the Houston
area. The conference’s annual budget is about 9,000 U.S.
dollars. The Hispanic churches provide about 75% of the budget
and the rest is donated by different congregations.
The organizers want to express their gratitude to the different
churches that helped them during the last twenty one years,
either economically, providing transportation, or both.
Southeast Church of Christ was the only English speaking
congregation that has helped the Gulf Coast Bible Conference for
more than ten years, since its beginning in 1986.
If your English speaking congregation is interested in
participating and/or supporting this event, please send an email
to our site’s postmaster or contact:
Westbury Church of Christ
10424 Hillcrofy Ave.
Houston, TX 77096
(713)729-7880
Conferencias Bíblicas del Golfo
Thursday July 3 to Sunday July 6, 2008
|
