New Life Christian Center (San Benito, Texas, USA)
New Life Christian Center (originally named “Primera Mennonite Church”) began in 1987 in Brownsville, Texas, as a church plant of Iglesia Menonita del Cordero with shared support from the South Central Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Board of Missions. In 1994, Eduardo “Lalo,” Maria and Ana Alicia Hinojosa joined the church community. Eduardo "Lalo" Hinojosa (1943-2024) began the congregation until his death in 2024.
Initially the church rented an old building that flooded frequently, but the congregation grew as they reached out through having cell groups in different homes. In 1999 the congregation built a new church building in San Benito with the help of volunteers and friends from the wider church. The name was changed to New Life Christian Center at that time. When the roof was finished, the congregation began to use the unfinished building. At their first service in the building, they had a lunch of “stone soup” because they had laid their foundation in Jesus Christ. Additional donations and fundraisers allowed them to complete the inside of the building. Over the years, the congregation had a children’s chapel program, youth group gatherings, adult Bible study and prayer meetings, and programs to assist those in need in Mexico. The congregation grew to approximately 175 regular members. After the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2023 there were 30-35 members who regularly attended Sunday worship services and Thursday Bible studies.
The congregation grieved the death of Pastor Lalo Hinojosa on 3 June 2024 but his vision and legacy lived on through many others. His daughter, Ana Alicia Hinojosa, Senior Executive of Ventures with Mennonite MIssion Network, continued serving the congregation as Associate Pastor.
On 20 June 2024, the Western District Conference (WDC) Executive Board reviewed a membership application from New Life Christian Center and approved bringing a recommendation to the WDC delegates to receive this congregation as a member congregation.
Bibliography
Additional Information
Address: 925 Zillock Road, San Benito, Texas
Phone: 1-956-831-8281
Email: newlifemenno@gmail.com
Denominational Affiliations:
General Conference Mennonite Church (1987-1999)
Mennonite Church USA (2000-present)
South Central Mennonite Conference (1987-2023)
Western District Conference (2024-present)
| Author(s) | John D Thiesen |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 7 Oct 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Thiesen, John D. "New Life Christian Center (San Benito, Texas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 7 Oct 2024. Web. 7 Oct 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=New_Life_Christian_Center_(San_Benito,_Texas,_USA)&oldid=179834.
APA style
Thiesen, John D. (7 Oct 2024). New Life Christian Center (San Benito, Texas, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 7 October 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=New_Life_Christian_Center_(San_Benito,_Texas,_USA)&oldid=179834.
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