Alabama church planter retires from ministry in state

Alabama church planter retires from ministry in state

After nearly 17 years of ministry service in Alabama, Ramon Rivas said goodbye March 16 with plans to continue his ministry work in Mexico.

Rivas served as a church planter for the Northwest Alabama Hispanic Coalition in Hamilton and was later commissioned by the North American Mission Board in 2008 as a church-planting missionary for Hispanic churches. He worked in various ministry capacities in Franklin, Winston, Colbert-Lauderdale and Marion Baptist associations.   

Rivas began several new Hispanic missions. One was Primera Iglesia Bautista, Hamilton, in Marion Association — the first Alabama Baptist church owned by a Hispanic congregation — where Rivas served as pastor for eight years. 

Rivas’ heart for ministry was evident to those he worked with, including Keith Box, Marion Association’s director of missions.

“He is a very dedicated and committed man,” Box said. “First and foremost he loves Jesus. I’ve never met a man with such a drive and passion to win people to Christ. … Only eternity will show the impact Ramon Rivas has had for the kingdom of God.”

Primera Iglesia Bautista, Hamilton, hosted a party March 16 to celebrate Rivas’ retirement from ministry in Alabama. 

Rivas now lives in Texas and it is his “heart to start a mission in Mexico,” he said. He asks for prayers for God to open doors for this new chapter of ministry.