Sanchez, Pastor Rudy

  Was a strong contributor to Texas Baptist denominational ministry in numerous, meaningful ways. Sanchez was born on July 15, 1936, in San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of George W. Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

 

  While in college, he pastored Emmanuel Mission of Brady, Texas. While in Seminary, he pastored Primera Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Later pastorates included the First Mexican Baptist Church of Dallas, where he served two different times, Primera Iglesia Bautista, (First Mexican Baptist Church) of Corpus Christi, Texas and the Trinity Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. The extensive denominational service of Sanchez includes a variety of positions. He served three years in the Ethnic Missions Division of the Executive Board staff of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In following years, he served on numerous denominational committees and organizations, including the State Missions Commission.

 

  While pastoring in Houston, he was elected as moderator of the Union Baptist Association and to the Administrative Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Later, while pastoring in Dallas, he was elected as chairman of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was elected president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, known in Spanish as Convencin Bautista Hispana de Texas, for two different terms and second vice-president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

 

  He served as a trustee of Baylor University Medical Center and as a trustee of the Baptist Standard. During his seminary studies in Fort Worth, Texas, he met and married Ruth Menchaca. They have five children, Mrs. Vince (Rhoda) Gonzales, Mrs. Chris (Rebekah) Layne, Regem Saul and Reuel Scott, and an adopted son, Herman Splatt, M.D. They have four grandchildren, Vicente Ariel and Pablo Gonzales and Kyle Diego and Kiera Sofia Layne. He is also survived by several other family members in San Antonio, Texas. A Victory Service will be at 7PM Thursday February 12, 2009 at Northway Baptist Church 3877 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75229. Funeral Service will be at 10AM Friday February 13, 2009 at Restland Memorial Chapel. Interment to follow in Restland Memorial Park.